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NAK8ATIYE A>D WRITINCS 



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ip:, 



ANDREW JACKSON, 

OF KENTUCKY; 
NARRATED BY HIMSELF. 



SYRACUSE: 
DAILY AND WEEKLY STAR OFFK E, 

STAR BUILDINGS. 
1847. 



N 



^UKRATIYE AND- WEilLNGS 



-GF 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



OF KENTUCKY ; 



££3 



\ 



CONTAINING AX ACCOUNT OF HIS BIRTH, AND TWENTY SIX TEARS 3F 
HIS LITE WHILE A ?LAV£ ; HIS ESCAPE: FTVE YEARS OF FREE- 
DOM, TOGETHER WITH ANECDOTES RELATING TO SLAVERY ; 
JOURNAL OF ONE YEAR's TRAVELS; SKETCHES, ETC. 



NARRATED BY HIMSELF; 



WRITTEN BY A FRIEND. 



SYRACUSE : 

DAILY AND WEEKLY STAR OFFICE, 

Star Buildings. 

1847. 



r&EFACl-.. 



I have fell a spirit rising up within me that could with difficul- 
ty bo rcprepscH, when I have thought of the miserable farce that 
such celebrations present. To bear men quote the language 
of Patrick Henrv, "give me liberty or give me death !•' and 
to hear them talk of the "triumphs of liberty," and of this 
''■ free and linppy nation," while the clanking of the chains of 
:^,OUO,000 of American citizens is ringing in their ears, is 
enough to make one icho has worn ihtse chains, feel like call- 
ing lire from heaven to consume such mockery of the sacred 
Genius of Liberty. Nor would it be strange, if yet the God 
of Justice should cease His forbearance to such a nation, and 
punish her as He did ancient Egypt for oppressing His free 

children. 

It is impossible for me, on paper, to describe the feelings of 
a slave. The love of liberty is as deep in their br^sts as in 
other men's. They are as sensitive under wrongs and suffer- 
ings, notwithstanding their apparent submission. And I doubt 
uo^ their white masters, under an Algerine oppression, would 
be as submissive as they are. When men of any color find 
they must submit to wrong, and that there is no escape, the 
color of the skin does not create any diflference. 

I hope those who shall read this narrative, and learn what a 
fellow being was willing to undergo to obtain liberty, will feet 
a deeper interest in the liberation of the millions Jess fortunate 
still groaning in Slavery, and by the spirit of the Golden Rule, 
laid down in Divine Truth, be moved to do as they wou\d have 
others do for them were they in the place of the slaves. 

ANDREW JACKSON. 



/ 



INTRODUCTION 



The writer, having been applied to by the subject of the foI« 
lowing narrative, to prepare an account of his life for the press ; 
after listening to his story, became satisfied that the facts to 
be presented, would be interesting to the many friends of Mr. 
Jackson, who have become acquainted with him, during the 
several years he has been zealously engaged in the philanthro* 
pic works of striving to awaken the people of the north to the 
enormous wickedness and cruelty of the slave system. 

While it is doubtless true, that very many of the represent- 
ations of Slavery, which are made to the north, by lecturers 
and writers, are exaggerations, wc think the truth on the sub- 
ject i? sufficient to arouse the philanthropy of theemintry, in 
a united and vigorous movement for the overthrow or the in* 
stitution. And narratives like the one presented in the follow- 
ing pages, cannot fail of awakening a. deeper syoipathy in the 
breasts of those who, already, in a measure, "remember those 
in bonds as being bound .with them," a result very desirable 
in some cases, even among the most devoted advocates of Lib- 
erty, under the present important political movements of the 
non-slaveholding States. x 

It is devoutly desired, that the time may be ne^tj-^xyhen an 
American citizen will no sooner acknowledge himself a friend 
of Slavery than piracy, when the doctrines contained in the 
Declaration of our Independence, may be practised, and eve- 
ry subject of the American government may enjoy that with 
which he is "endow-ed by the Creator," — the 'Mmalienable 

a2 



,, iKiROUtcrroK. 

f.ohl to Ule, libetly and the pursuit of liappiDess,"-ai,d fflirf 
;;,ead of bushing to acknowledge himselt a fncnd of imme- 
diate emancipation, every one will, in '1^^ t'" ht nHde re 
Jefferson and John Quincy Adan.s, with hoDorable pride re- 
cord Ihe.r testimony in favor of it before the nation. Tn.s 
done, and the light and glory of this nation vrill surpass any 
nation under heaven. 

As Andrew is a young pupil, so far as knowledge of letter 
,. concerned, those who know this fact will, of course under- 
stand that, after obtaining the facts, which compose the history, 
the writer has employed his pliraseology to express them, A , 



NARRATIVE. &c, 



CHAPTER I. 

1, Andrew Jackson, was born on the 25th of Januai), 
I814j in the "Bowling Green Circuit," Kentucky. My fa- 
her was a slave — the " property "of Jason Isbel, a man of in- 
temperate habits. My mother, before my birth^ was emanci- 
pated by a deed to that effect from her master. His heirs re- 
fused to give the woman and her children freedom on the 
around of the alleged insanity of her master at the time of his 
f^iving her the deed. And not having the means of contesting 
the matter in Law, (for "on the side of the oppressor there is 
power,") she was compelled, not only to remain herself a 
slave, but to see her offspring wearing the galling chains. 

J have no recollection of ever seeing my father or mother, 
hut rely upon the statements of my brothers and friends for the 
tacts in regard to my title to freedom. My grand mother was 
nearly white, and I think I possess "enough of the Anglo 
Saxon blood i:» give me a deep and thorough abhorrence of 
oppression." it any rate, I am so much in love with free- 
dom since tcjiiug into possession of it, that for all lie wealth 
of the entire Slaveholding States I would not exchange my 
present situation, even with the most happily situated slave. — 
J have never yet known what it was to be " contented and 
lippy" in slavery. 

When a child, I fell into the hands of one George Wall, a 
iJethodist preacher, with whom I remained until I was twenty 
/ears of age, subject to hardships and sufferings incident to a 
ife of degrading servitude, although not claimed by Wall as a 
slave, in the strictest sense of the term. I was, however, the 
companion of slaves and treated like them, and could not es 
cape their fate but by flight. 



1,1 1 I. A> It ADVh.N II RES 



Um Uie lieiiili ol WdWy I jjiissed into the iiaiidi ul Jauic? 
I'.ladJcn, a lurinor, au admiuislralor of the estate of Wall, 
iiul soon alltr uas "hired out" to Stephen Cjaypoolc. This 
man ha I a demand against McFaddcn of $1100, and claimed 
inc as his piopertv, by virtue of that demand. After keeping 
me four years, at the business of turnpiUing, 1 was swapped 
«>♦!', with a Mr. Kerns, for anether slave, " Tom," and set at 
work digging stumps — or as I term it, "stump-piking." In 
I few monihs the parties reversed the bargain, and myself and 
Tom reverted to our Ibrmer owners: and in a little time I was 
-•Id or made over like a kind of " heir-loom," to John Clay- 
.)ole, anil then to Perrv C'laypoole. The latter individual was 
I tobacco grower, and farmer. Unlike a large proportion of 
Slaveholders, this individual superintended his own plantation, 
Tud labored with his own hands. Ho had a girl named Claril- 
da, whom he required to work in the field with me, compelling 
us like cattle to draw the eultivaiing plow through the furrow. 
I could have borne it, myself, but it was hard work to pull 
the plow with a poor female yoke-fellow, for although my mas- 
ter seemed to regard a female slave little better than a beast, 
nature taught me to consider the impropriety of her treatment, 
and I could not endure it. 

Whatever men may think of us, wc arc not destitute of the 
t« elings of men. 

In July, Claypoole told us, we must cultivate five hogsheads 
of Tobacco for our summer's work. Added to this, was the 
order for us to "get married," according to Slavery — or, in 
nihcr words, to enrich his plantation by a family of young 
nlaves. The alternative of this was, to be sold to a slave trader 
who was then in the vicinity making up a gang for a more 
southern market. " This information" I did not like, — more 
especially, as I had often been promised my freedom in a few 
ye^rs if I would work faithfully; and I resolved, whenever an 
opportunity should otfer, and I could see my way clear to at- 
tempt I shorter and more certain route to freedom than to 
rtv', lit the fuhilrnont of a Slaveholder's promise ; for in rela- 
' .)(! to the emancipation of a slave, their promises are alwavs 

; {gotten before they get cold. And, if I could have any 
• onfidence in such promises, it would have inspired me with 
energy to almost any amount of labor, fori never desired any 
thing more ardently, nor was willing to make so great a sac- 
rifice for any thing else as my liberty.'' And I hero beg leave 



Of AM) HEW JACKSON. 

to say, that although 1 have often heard- northern people state 
that the slaves did " not want their freedom," yet I never saw 
one who would not endure twice what I passed through, and 
more, if they could but be sure of liberty at the last. It is the 
theme of almost every meeting among them, and one of the 
most happy events whenever one escapes. And it is a very 
rare thing that one slave ever becomes informer against his 
brother who intends to take the long walk. When one is ready- 
to start, those who remain will often help him in every way in 
their power. 



CHAPTER IL 

*' After firmly resolving to runaway from my master,'' 
the next thing was to learn where to go, and how to get 
away. I heard a great many things about the Northern 
States, and some things not at all favorable to my welfare, 
even if I should succeed in making my escape. I was told 
that the " free niggers" were often half starved, and not 
respected any more, if as much, as ihev were in the Slave 
States. But I made up my mind that if I could learn the 
way, I would try it. An opportunity occurred for m.e to 
obtain the information I needed from a gentleman who had 
been north, and described the route through Kentucky, 
Ohio*^ Illinois, &c. Then the thing was to get started — 
to get away from the neighborhood without detection. I 
resolved to make the attempt. 

On Saturday night, early in August, I gathered my 
clothes together, and after selecting the best, which were 
not very good, I started off in the direction of a piece of 
woods, and there tore up those I desired least, and threw 
them down, besmeared with blood which I obtained to give 
them the appearance of having been torn from me by a 
wild beast, in order that I might prevent any one from pur- 
suing me until I could escape beyond their reach. 

The Clerk's Office being some six miles distant, I 
thought I would go there on ray way, too, and get a certifi- 
cate of my freedom, under pretence of frying to obtain my 
liberty by process of law. The Clerk replied to m,y re- 
quest only by cursing me, and told me to go back and be 



10 LIFE AND ADVENTURED OF 

coiitenl to live with my master. I did not feel disposed 
to remain long, so 1 started off, telling him I would go 
back — but I meant I would go back to the woods. 

The first place I directed my steps to, was Shaker- 
town. The way I manaijed to get along here without cre- 
ating suspicion, was to represent that I was a " turnpiker," 
and going to a job north of that vicinity. Slaves are fre- 
quently empl-ycd at this business, some* distance from 
home. This pretence worked well for a while, until I had 
passed beyond the vicinity of it and had lost my way, and 
was compelled to inqnire the road, when I was frequently 
interrupted with questions. The first I have any recollec- 
tion of, was from a gentleman on horseback, alone, as 
follovvs ; 

" Where do you belong, nigger V said he. 
*' I am a turnpiker, going to Elk*on," I replied. 
*' Whose boy are you," said he. 

Assuming all the courage I could, I told him it was not 
his business j but he then began to suspect, and accused 
me of being a runaway. I smiled, and took out some old 
papers and pretended to look for my pass. As he saw me 
looking for it, he concluded all was right, and rode on, be-, 
ing in haste. It often appears to me that the slaveholders 
and southerners generally, are much more regardful of 
their neighbors' property and interests than the people of 
the north. I cannot account for it on any other supposi- 
tion than the very peculiar character of the property. If 
slaves were like money, simply transferable by the will of 
the owner, I presume it would be quite different. But in- 
asmuch as it often takes le->s and ums away^ it becomes a 
matter of mutual interest for each to protect his neighbor's 
'* rights''^ in order to render his own more secure. 

I very soon came across another man who made the en- 
quiry, " Whose boy are you ?" Uoon refusing to tell him, 
I was a^ain accused, and having no pass to show him from 
nay master, I soon resolved to pass away from him ; and as 
I^saw he "was lame and could not follow me, nor get very 
soon to a house to give the alarm, I started off for the woods, 
and went on in a direction that soon brought me within 
sight of the road I wished to take, where I walked until 
near night, when I again emerged into the road, and kept 
it until in the niorningv and *vent into the woods, where, 



ANDREW JACKSON 11 

after firiding a safe and suitable placp, T lay ilctun in a 
thicket for sUep, weary and hungry— for I dnred not to ap- 
ply any where for food. 

After sleeping until afternoon, I awoke and resunned my 
journey through the woods and fields until towards night, 
subsisting upon raw potatoes and wheat which I picked and 
shelled out in my hands. The next day, fearing I should 
lose my way, I ventured to take the road. I had traveled 
but a short distance before I came to a house, where I saw 
two men standing. As I came up they hailed me with th« 
usual salutation, '' Where you going, nigger ]" *' Whose 
boy are you ?" I made them no answer, but walked on at 
a rapid rate, with my /"aithful young hickory — my only 
weapon of defence. Supposing me to be a " runaway," as 
men generally do in such cases, they armed themselves 
with guns and dogs, and gave chase, and I followed their 
example, directing my way several hundred yards ahead of 
them for the woods. I soon heard the dogs with their 
frightful baying, and the men hallooing at the top of their 
voices — *' Stop, you d — d nigger, or we will shoot you !" 
As good fortune ordered it, the woods into which I ran was 
thick and full of shrubbery, and a large stream passed 
through it running along the foot of a hill, I recollected 
having chased foxes in my earlier days, and also of hunting 
minks. The foxes sometimes run back and forth, and in 
circles, to confuse the hound. The minks dive into water. 
1 tried the policy of each, runnirg back and forth across the 
stream, as often as I dared, and then along in the edge of 
♦he stream, to embarrass the dogs. In this way I kept the 
dogs off, and the men not being so well accustomed to 
running in the woods as I was, and being also hindered by 
their guns, I gained upon them in the flight, and escaped 
to the wood, and as I hoped was safe for the present. But 
I was mistaken. I had been in the wood but a short time 
before I was surprised by two men who had gone on in 
pursuit of me. They had no dogs. Being nlready weary 
and lame, they had the advantage of me, and might, if they 
had had guns, disabled and captured me. But I again ran 
to the woods which were near, and started ofl:" in a 
southerly direction until I came into the thickets, when I 
tamed and ran due west, thinking I should thereby elude 
ihem, as they would in all probability continue south. I 



12 



LIFE AND r\DV£.NTURF.5 OF 



If any one wishes to know what were my feelings during 
this time, let them imagine themselves a slave, with the 
strong arm of the law extended over their heads— doomed, 
if retaken, to a severe punishment, and almost uuendiirablJ 
torture. Compelled to toil from day to day, subject to th- 
hardships and cruelties of such toil as slaves only know 
with none but fellow sufferers to- sympathise with him. and 
they unable to afford relief— with no prosoect of a better 
state, for lile-depri^ed of the blessings of knowledge and 
the sweets of iritellectual pursuit. Seing all the free whiU; 
people around him happy in the possession of friends ancf 
the blessings of life and himself a crushed, derrraded beincr>^ 
Desiring to arise, but unable to do so. Then imagine you", 
self on the road, flying for liberty among your^nemies, 
alone, unarmed, trembling at every step with the greatest 
anxiety and with fear. Sleeping during the day alone in the 
wilderness, exposed to wild beasts and serpents; hungry, 
lame, and almost spirit broken-starting up from a distur'bed 
f^A A ^\'S^!'^^\^'^'^'^''>^ of arrest and torture. Hunted 
and chased during the day by men of no heart, and with fero- 
cious dogs trained to the pursuit-the faint gleams of free- 
dom now shooting up, and then lost in darkness-hope and 



judged correctly, and it was well for me that I did, for be- 
ing so weary and lame I could not have continued so long^ 
us they did. I ran on as long as I thought it necessary, and 
then took a m.oderate pace, cautiously listening to hear if I 
was still pursued. A short time before sun-set, to my sur- 
prise and regret, I saw, as the sun shone out, that 1 was 
tending to the south. Disappointed and confused, I turned 

my face again to the north, and traveled until I came into 
the highway. 



CHAPTER HI. 

After again finding the road, I traveled on during the re- 
mainder of the night, only stopping to rest myself occasion- 
ally, or to allow some traveler to pass, or to pick a few 
blackberies and gather a little wheat to satisfy my hunger 
In the morning I again sought the woods for safety and 
rest. ' ■^ i 



■ » ■ 

I 



•icspair consiantiv i.iiiiifr your i.t aii. i'liis was my siiuation 
lor \voek.s. Btit ibank CIoJ, 1 can now /'>o/." bach upon that 
volume of trying scenes and feel — thetj are past, an«^l rejoice 
in the sueet behests of my (iod-given rights. 

In the raornini^ of the next daj-, as I was traveling lei- 
surely alon^, I saw a boy watching me very closely. A-^ I 
came up within a few rods of the house, he darted into it. — 
I suspected his errand, and instead of going on — turned 
back, carefilly crouching in the shade of the fence until 1 
came to a grouj^^f hu<<hes : behind these I ran on until 1 
came into an op'^n lir'd, in an f»pposite direction from that 
ihey had supposed me to be poing, little dreaming that I 
had hern watrhrd by ot' -tc in pursuit of me and 

lind fakr«:i niyib'i>h in s» \ Hut I was not lonjr in 

this ignorance — for as I was urging my way through the 
lif'ld to a larti'-r pi^ce of * and ju.-.t upon the j>oint of 

scaling n fence, a man >, -p like a tiger from the side 

of a lo;; and struck at me. Quick as I could, I turned and 
run a few' steps and botmded over thf» tVnce. tlu>t as my 
f««'t struck the ground, a chih grazed my shoulder, but diil 
mc no harm : a little way ahead, 1 saw another man and 
dog, with a 1 The nian ha<l a guii. Now, 

thought I, arc ; ^ led. I kid heard about the Isra- 
elites when they IIimI from the .-ilavery of Egypt I thought I 
was !i ' ' n)C are di ath. I almost 

>ank (.:.... •,.... ., .i led again, determined to 

■<cll my life and liberty together, or to gain them. And with 
ihu -■ 'v-n surj>ritffd rnr, 1 ran for the bushes 

—the .. _ ,..., ^ ;..o in the lea<i, followed by the two men 

tnd boy — the n>an b«-ing on horseback. As the dog came up, 
i seized a stone and lortunately hit him in the head, leaving 
i»im stiH'npon the ground. The man on the horse soon came 
up and uttering oat))s which made my blood chill, almost, 
'•t»mmandr<l me to .stop. I did so — hut only to draw back my 
trusty hickory, and by a well directed blow sent him reeling 
from his unsaddled horse. He soon recovered, however, as 
fnc blow only stunned liim for a moment, and renewed the 
pursuit. As he came up the second lime, before he reached 
mc l.<' tried to fire upon mc, but as fortune ordered it, his gun 
nu^^rd and left him in a rage. He then rode on, with the 
weapon raised in his hand, comman<ling mr to stop. I had a 
r. Mind stone ill mv hantl. and when he came near enough, I 

B 



11 l.IFF. AND ADVENTUKES OF 

uetvnniiud lo gi\M?' In'ni wliat wo lifted to call a "hard hiscuil,'" 
anil IliK'W llie stone, wliirb, iVoin tlie cry he gave, I knew li:ul 
iiil him soincwlieio, and caused iriin to halt until Ids compan- 
ion came up with him. 

Some may think I did wrong in this, and I am. very sure it 
was very hazardous, for the penalty is very severe upon slaves 
who Gtriive a white man, but 1 was after a prize, for which I 
was w'lling to risk my life. And I doubt not, any one who 
rends this, would have done the same. And if it was right for 
the revolutionary patriots to fight for libe'rty^t wasrfght for me, 
and it is right for any other slave to do the ^me. And were 1 
now a slave, I would risk my life for freedoni. "Give me 
liberty or give me death," would be my deliberate conclusion. 

Determined not to be frustrated in their designs, they star- 
ted in hot pursuit. As the rider came up, I determined to try 
once more the strength of my arm and my hickory, and dealt 
him a blow in the breast, and just at that moment heard hif^ 
companion cry out, "ride over him, liicks;" but the only an- 
swer Hicks gave, as a groan told m.e I had given liim a .sure 
blow — uas, "I c-a-n-t.'' 

I had by this time, most providentially for me, gained tlie 
edge of a wide piece of thickly growing hazle, called " buck 
pasture." Knowing I could beat them in running in this, I 
darted into it, and ran on until a little out of hearipg of them 
and turned a short angle a few rods, and crawled into a thick 
cluster, intending to let them pass. 1 soon heard them com- 
ing, and cursing the " dog." 

" Why didn't you lay him, Hicks," said his companion. 

^'I couldn't replied Hicks, ''he came pretty near making an 
all day job of it for me. 

"You ought to have killed him,'' replied the other* 

"Couldn't do it, I tell yon — 1 never saw such a nigger — 
the very devil could not take him alone." 

Jnst then a noise was heard a little to the left of me, proba- 
Idy a wikl animal of some kind, and I had the inexpressablo 
joy to heai them start oil] exclaiming, " Yonder he goes ; now 
we will soon have him — Stop you nigger, or we will take 
your life !" And if they had done so, the law would have ex- 
onerated them in it — tor it is lawful to shoot a slave if he re- 
luses to return to his master when commanded lo do so by 
anyone, whether his "owner" or not. It i.s frequently the 
cape, that slaves are shot under ihose circumstances, and no 



ANDREW JACKSON, 



ii'Hice taken of it. And slave hunters are oflcu dirtctcj. to 
bring back the slave, who may have escaped, "dead or alive !" 

I waited until all wns still, and crept out of my retreat and 
\vcrit back ill the direction from which I had been pursued, 
keeping the woods as far as they went, keeping a westerly 
course, while they went north, or north east — traveling and 
resting the remainder of that day and night unmolested. Lhad 
learned t>om the imminent perils I had just escaped, the ne- 
cessity for being more cautious. 

Knowing, as I well did, by the scenes I had just experienced 
that I was pursued, and that the well trainad dogs would be put 
in req^uisition, I resolved to avoid as much as possible, taking 
the roads. But it was necessary for me to travel a part of the 
time in them, both on account of the fatigue it srave me to run 
in the woods and tiel Is, and the difficulty of keeping ijiy course 
northward, as I knew I must do, to get out of the region ofsla- 
very. 

I am sometimes asked, how we learn the \yay to the free 
States? My answer is, that the slaves know much more about 
thismatter than many persons are aware. They have means 
of communication with each other, altogether unknown to 
their masters, or to the people of the free states — even the 
route of some who have escaped is familiarly knov/n to the 
more intelliirent ones. There is scarcely one, who does not 
uiidcrstaiid the position of the " north star," although that ii* 
about the extent of tli?ir knowledge of Astronomy. The rea- 
sons why more do not follow it, are want of means and the 
feir of death if apprehended. Slaves are watched and guard- 
ded like casrcd animals. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The day following, when near eleven o'clock, I was mov- 
ing cautiously along, f saw a man on a small hillock in front 
of his hous?, apparently watching my movement?. I had 
learned to look upon every white man as my foe, and dared 
not pas3 near to any one. I saw on my left a large meadow 
near (ho banks of the Wabash, in which a larije number of 
.'tie were grazing -, and directed my steps toward them, de- 
:"mincd if followed to cross th'; river and climb the rugged 



16 LITE AND ADVE.MLRtS or 

banks opposite and hide uinoiig its projections. J was not 
mistaken. As soon as the man saw my movements, he knew 
1 was a fugative, and ran to his house, a short distance from 
where he stood, and taking his dog and gun made chase for 
lue. Like a deer, the hound soon came toward me. At 
once the thought occurred to me, this dog is not, perhaps well 
trained, I will try to set him upon the cattle, and clapping my 
hands, I ran and hallowed, at the top of my voice, s't-a-boy ! 
^'t-a-boy ! My plan took. The dog darted like lightnuig 
through the tall grass in chase of the cattle, who ran with their 
heads erect, snuffing like wild beasts ; the poor disappoiated 
man-hunter calling him off' to no effect. I left him to take 
care of his dog and cattle, while I swam the stream and hid 
among the ample shelters erected by the hand of nature — 
where, wearied almost to death, I sat down beside a spring to 
bathe my bruised and swollen feet and limbs, and to gain 
strength for my perilous journey. I heard the merry birds 
singing in the branches over my head, and saw the bounding 
squirrels as they leaped from tree to tree. "Happy "creatures," 
said I, '-this is your home. Its ample domain affords you 
range for wild sports and songs. But, alas! for me, it only 
gives a brief shelter and rest from the cruel persecutions of 
my brother men ! AVould to God the ties of nature, were 
among men as they are among thee. Thou art happy in thy 
innocent sports, and each seems to find pleasure in contribu- 
ting to the other's enjoyment. With man, all is self — self — 
selt. The price of his pleasure may be the suffering and 
death of his equal brother, but he heeds not the unholy sacri- 
fice ! God of these woods and hills —this river and these 
streams, I cried, protect me, as thou dost these little one's of 
thy power and care;" and I fell asleep among my reflections 
and prayers— dreaming of the distant hills and valleys of free- 
dom before me, where 1 stood erect and fearing no danger. 
But I soon awoke from my sweet visions, by the pains in my 
shoulder, limbs, and the gnawing of hunger. I looked around 
me, and soon found black berrios, sweet and delicious with 
which 1 filled my hands and ate, thanking Him, who caused 
them to grow, where no human being would be likely to come 
to my annoyance as 1 plucked them from their yieldino- 
stems. ° 

I reinained in this place, frequently bathing my limbs, and 
taking intervals of s^lecp, until the clo.rC of the next day, re- 



ANDRLW JACK60N, 1 7 

solved to gain the road, and make my way as fast as I could 
from the country which appeared to be haunted by my pursu- 
ers. After traveling all night, without any other annoyance 
than to be occasionally started by the barking of a watch dog-, 
I found myself drawing slowly toward the place of my desti! 
nation. 

The next day, I was pursued a short distance by two men, 
but they appeared to have been out on a pleasure excursion] 
and after running a short distance, and firing at me, gave up 
the chase, cither because they were too weary ^to pursue it, or 
being hopeless in regard to success. Their'dogs appeared 
also tired and refused to obey them. Lame and sore as I 
was, I was gratified when I saw them abandon me. 



CHAPTER V. 

The next day finding myself so often in peril by my at- 
tempts to pass along as I had done, I resolved before I emerg- 
ed from my brief retreat, that I would try a new expedient. I 
had frequently seen gentlemen traveling, with a servant eith- 
er preceeding or following them on foot. Sol waited until 
f saw a carriage pass, and got into the road, and followed it, 
and whenever I met any one I would appear to be all anxiety 
and inquire *' bow far ahead master's carriage was." This 
plan worked admirably, and I was enabled to travel more than 
Haifa day with one assumed " master"— always managing to 
be absent when he stopped, and not far behind him when he 
traveled. My first trick, however, did not last me all day, and 
I was compelled to get a new "master." I thus went on 
changing, until I reacned the Ohio river, at a place called 
Barkers old Ferry, where I crossed into Illinois, in the coun- 
ty of Gallatin, and began to feel secure. After wandering 
about, in the evening, for some time," I found an old horse 
trough, which was dry— here I laid down and rested. In the 
early part of the day I awoke, and went to si stream near by 
and washed my limbs and rubbed them until they were re]iev= 
ed of their pain and stiff'n ess, when I again started, growing 
more and more impatient, the further I got from the place 
of my servitude. I almost forgot my pains and de- 
privations-^my perils and narrow escapes,' in the joy of my 

B 2 



IP LIFE AND ADVtMURES OF 

.. H,,... i salclv. but huw little knew 1 wliat a day Wm 
briiU forth. 1 had scarcely felt the first dehghtiul sensations 
of my proximity to the nou-sJaveholding regions where 1 hop- 
rd to tind friends and home, ere I was startled from my plea- 
sin^ reveries by the sound of a man's voice, ordering me to 
"st'op"' On looking at my side, I saw a man standing in 
the door of a small hut. I did not obey the voice, but went on 
more rapidly, receiving for my temerity a stone thrown with 
some force,*hittin? me in the leg. I then started off on a run, 
the man after me,"^crying, "stop him, stop him !' I looked 
up a short distance ahead, and saw a carriage standing in 
the road, and concluded the persons who owned it were not 
in It, no horses being attached to it,— ran oil until a few steps 
from it, in the act of passing, the door flew open, and two men 
rushed out and discharged a pistol at me but without eflect.— 
I dodged from them and out ran them, until I came to a pre- 
cipice not far from the road, and threw myself down it far 
enough to be out of their reach, the last ball the fellow had in 
his pfstol, whizzing past my head as I escaped. At the bot- 
tom of the precipice w^as alarge stream, overhung with bushes, 
and the men supposed I had gone to the bottom and was out 
of sight as they came up, although I was then snugly 'sconced 
beneath their feet under a shelf of the bank. They stood a 
moment as they came up swearing at rny miraculous speed, 
for^o "clumsy lookiii;i a fellow," and came to the conclusion 
1 had " jumped my lasl jump," that time and walked off. 

After'lhey had been absent, as I thought, long enough, I got 
out and went on in another course, until I began to fear I was 
on the wrong track, and called tu inquire of *a man, whose 
name I afterwards learned to be Digly, in what place I then 
was. lie told me, and mistrusting me to be a fugative, di- 
rected me to the house of a Dr. not far distant, whom he said 
I would find to be a friend. • So I did ; but, knowing the law 
to be severe towards those who harbor run-away slaves, he 
was ([uite unwilling for me to remain. More than that, he 
told me I would be in great danger of apprehension, by re- 
maining with him, as he had much company and all would 
be curious to know who was in his employ. But, 1 was so 
happy to hear one human voice — (the first 1 had heard in 
many days) that spoke in words of sympathy, I could not 
think of leaving him, hoping that in case of any signs of 



ANi)REn JACKSoN, Ij) 

trouble I could escape. This gentleman gave nie Ibod and 
a comfortable bed. 

In the morning I took his team and went to work, ploucrh- 
ing. I had not been at work but a few hours, before I saw 
several men coming toward me, and soon recognised among 
them one whom I had seen the daj or two previous. He 
had pursued me on horseback, and the man who directed me 
to the Doctor had betrayed me. I presume he ment to do 
so, when he sent me there, and had intended to get the Doc- 
tor's feet into the same snare — it being contrary to law to 
harbor a fugative slave. 

§t Here I found myself involved in new difficulties and dan- 
gers, and O, how bitterly did I regret that 1 had not gone on. 
But it was too late. I was surrounded, and entirely defense- 
less. My trusty hickory that had made a pathway for me 
through braces of bull dogs and men, was at the house, and 
I was bare-foot and in an open field. The men took me, and 
after binding my hands and limbs, carried me back to a ma- 
gistrate, where I was examined, and being unable to prove my 
freedom, was sent to jail, to be kept for six weeks, and sold 
according to law to pay my jail fees. 

I was put under the care of an oflicer and one other man, 
who with a dog, were my guards and escort to prison. The 
men were very intemperate, and but for the dog whom they 
set to guard me, I could easily have escaped them. Before 
going to bed, at a tavern where they stopped for the night, on 
learning that I was a "pious nigger," as they called me, they 
made me sing and pray for them. 

The next morning we started again. They drank freely, 
as they had done the day previously, and to amuse themselves 
or to torture me, made nire run, or rack along, with cords 
around my knees, and my arms fastened behind, laughing and 
harrassing my feelings as much as possible whenever they 
met any one. 

I found after a while, that the cords were loose and that I 
could slip them off — so I started on a little faster and faster, 
gradually gaining upon them until I finally slipped off my 
cords entirely, and could have escaped, but for the thickness 
of the swamp and my bare feet. They soon saw that my 
cords were off, and rode on until they overtook me. We then 
went on, they making me run faster Ihan before as a punish- 
ment for having fried io escape. 



20 LIFE AM) ADVENTURES OF 

1 was taken to jail and shut up in a dungeon with several 
others. One of the number was a man whiter than most far- 
mers, and said lie was free. He had a wife and children, poor 
Ifllow, and was almost distracted. But we could not help 
him any more than he could help us. 

I can scarcely give the reader a fair impression of the suf- 
ferings we endured in that cold, damp, filthy cell. No one 
was there to care for us. Our food was principally potatoes 
or coarse bread and water, and not enough of that even to 
keep us from half starving. Our complaints were answered 
by abuse, and sometimes by the lash. 

During my imprisonment, the skin came off my {eei and 
limbs, and they were very much swollen and painful, but I 
could get no water (o wash them, or to cool their burning fe- 
ver. And I sometimes thought I had better have stayed in 
Kentucky, for I knew not what would be my fate, if I lived to 
see my day of sale. Perhaps I should be sent off again to 
some distant state, and be subject to more terrible treatment 
than I had ever yet experienced. But all I could do, was to 
sit down, and meet my fate— for I learned to my sorrow that 
" on the side of the oppressor thero was power, and there was 
none to help.', 



CHAPTER YI. 

The day at length came for our sale. 1 was taken out and 
placed on the stand. 

"How much will you give, gentlemen, for this boy. Ac- 
quainted with all kinds of work, and a smart, active fellow!" 

" Six dollars," was bid by one. 

" Will you live with mc, if I will buy you, boy :'' said a fat 
faced landlord. 

"I think it rather iiard,'' I replied, "to be torn awav from 
my ngnts and shut up in jail, and then sold for life to par the 
jail fees." ^ ^ 

"Seven dollars,'^ said the landlord; adding, "I'll risk him." 
So the sale went on, and I was finally struck off to the land- 
lord, with whom I was duly installed into the office of ostler— 
a service I was quite willing to render, considering the advan- 
tages It would give me in acquirin.n; information relating to 



ANDREW JACKSON. 21 

Ihe position of the country to which 1 intended on the (irsl op- 
portunity to go, in search of my brother. 

I remained with this man nearly a month, and had (rot a 
pretty good suit of clothes and picked up a little change ; ''then 
made up my mind I had paid my "jail fees," and left him.— 
I determined not to leave my master until he was fully paid, 
for he treated me as well as if I had been a white man, and 
but for the fact of my being a slave, I should have been very 
happy in his employment. * 

After leaving Hopper, the landlord, I traveled all nipht, pass- 
ing up through Hillsborough, Carlisle, and other towns to 
Bloomington— traveling nights only, and hiding in the woods 
during the day, until 1 had got out of danger. At Blooming- 
ton I went to work and remained eleven months in the vicin- 
ity of my old Kentucky master's sons and sons-in-law.— 
Some of them were disposed to inform against me and have 
me taken back, but the others being opposed to it from feel- 
ings of sympathy prevented it, and I was not disturbed. 

After remaining at this place eleven months, during which 
time I clothed myself well, and saved considerable money, I 
started for Wisconsin, where my brother was living, whom 
I had not seen for the space of nine years. On my calling 
at his house, he did not know me, nor could I identify my- 
self by any marks or evidences, about my person. At lencrih 
I began to recount some of the scenes of our boyhood, wh^en 
he at once recognised, and joyfully received me. One rea- 
son for the \yant of recognition, was the tact that, although 
brought up in the same neighborhood, yet we rarely saw 
each other, except on holidays, or Sundays, when allowed 
to exchange visits, and being young had not any fixed im- 
pressions in regard to each other, save the associations of 
which I have made mention, relating to days of our bov- 
hood. o J 

V^ith my brother, I remained nearly one year, earning 
when 1 worked one dolfer per day. It was a new era indeed 
in my existence, when I could carry home with me at night, 
and feel it all my own, more money than I --had ever hancfleu 
while a slave, during any single year of my life, I v/as 
well clothed— lived well and happy," so far as my own condi- 
tion was concerned. But I could not sleep, often, when I 
would turn my thoughts to my countrymen in chains. 1 
would compare my situation with theirs, arid often Ho and 



2^ LIl !•; AND ADVENTURES OT 

weep l)itlt-'r tears of svinpufy for thoj>e 1 liad left behind ine^ 
I woukl have <liirca and endured any thing to have saved 

even one. , x u i 

\ have frequently heard pro-slavery men say that the slaves 
could 'Miot take care ol themselves," if they were set free. 
That they would " starve to death," or beeome " poor char- 
cTQs " andlhe like. But I would like to have those who think 
so citcacase, \vhew2 ajiything like a fair opportunity has 
been aiven, of a self emancipated slave, who has not secured 
a coratbrtable subsistence by his own exertions. Indeed I 
icnow that many of my white fellov/ laborers, at the west, 
whose advantages wcre'far better than my own, never man- 
s-re their affairs half so well as 1 did, and on some occasions 
came to me for help. And these same men too, would 
somctifiics repeat the foolish language of their masters— ''the 
nif^iiers cannot take care of themselves." 

^fhere were many persons in the place where I was labor- 
inn- who wc>e friendly to the cause of slaves and did much 
to^encourage the fugatives in their attempt to escape. They 
had become acquainted with my history, and desired me to 
relate to the public, something I knew from ray own experi- 
ence and observation about slavery. An opportunity was 
oliered for my complying with this request, at a large meet- 
ing held in rrairieviUc. A gentleman offered to pay my ex- 
-)cnses if I w^ould attend the meeting and talk. I consented ; 
but when I arose to speak,! was so unlearned and embarrass- 
ed that I could with ditticulty keep my feet. I had rather 
have met half a dozen slave catchers in an open field, if my 
old "hickory" had been in my hand and my limbs sound and 
Tree. But I managed to get out what I v/anted to say, and Ic 
was received with much pleasure — so much so, that a resolu- 
tion was passed, inviting me to make the tour of the county 
and frive the people -a plain statement of such things as I 
knew. After remaining in that region^ two months, however, 
1 learned there was to be a large meeting in the city of Bufla- 
Jo, and resolved to attend it — which I did, and since that time 
with the exception of a short time I spent in Canada, I have 
been lecturing and talking to the people, selling books and 
papers in this state, up to the present time, in the hope of 
adding my mite to the iulluences, which I hope will eventu- 
ally result in turning the) heart of every man woman and 
child a^ain.^t that most wicked and unjust of all institutions. 



ANDREW TACKSOTn. ^3 

And but toi the hict \h?.t my cormlrynien nre still in bondage^^ 
•I shouKi he happy indeed in the blessings ot" liberty. Amouor 
which, none are prised more Inghly than that of learning to 
road and- write. For when 1 first came into this state even, 
I could not write, and reading was quite out of the question, 
I can now read tolerably well, and write so well as to aston- 
ish all who know rne^ but none more than myself. And it 
is my intention soon to write a long letter to my old master, 
showing him the difference between the eflect of twenty-six 
veavs of ylavery and five years of freedom — leaving him fo 
judge which is the best fur man. Indeed, I know what the 
honest conviction of every one 7iow is. They know the 
slaves woiild all be much happier and more useful, if bless- 
ed with education — but the difficulties in keeping them 
in subjection would be greatly augmented: This is the 
reason why they are l<ept in ignorance. ' If every slave 
knew even the little that I do, they could not be kept iu 
chains twelve months. 

I close this narrative with the following lines from the 
eloquent Rev. John Pierpont. 

'' Call out O God, thy legions — 

The hosts of love and light ! 
Even in the blasted regions 

That slavery wraps in night, 
Some of thine own annointed 

Shall catch the welcome call, 
And at the hour appointed, 

Do battle for the thrall. 

I.et press, let pnlpit thunder 

In all slave-holder's ears, 
lill they disgorge the plunder 

They've garnered up for years ; 
Till Mississippi's valley, 

Till Carolina's coast, 
Round freedom's standard rally 

A vast, a ransomed host. 



24 UIK AM) ADVF.NTrRES Of 



A N F. C D O T 1 : S , 

RELATING TO SLAVEIIY — WITH FACTS, SHOWING THE INFI.li- 
P:NCE of slavery upon SLAVEHOLrERS, ETC. 



The first anecdote I will mention, is one which occurred 
while I was the slave of the preacher. We used to call him a 
"right down blower." He would preach and pray with a great 
deal of correctness and feeling, and often had the people all 
ill tears J but when at home quarreled vrith his wife like Luci- 
fer. I once overheard the following dialogue between them. 

^' (/*"• — '' You have been to the kitchen, to see Hannah." 

Preacher. — "You lie ; I have not been there at all." 

Jiy'e. — " Well I know you have, you brute ; I have a great 
mind to cut my own throat !" 

Preacher. — " O dear, I really wish you would." 

}Vife. — " Yes, I presume you do, so that you could run to 
the kitchen, as much as you please, to see Hannah. Old man, 
you need not tiy to thrust me off, for I have got some friends 
as well as you." 

Preacher. — "0 yes, I know — Ben is a particular friend of 
your's, I am aware.'' 

fflfe. — "If you mention that again, I will sureJy report you 
to the preachers." 

Preacher. — " Yv'cll, w^ell, we had better both stop, I guess, 
and make up friendships." 

fViJe. — " No, I won't," and off she goes in a storm. 

I used to look in to see how they acted when it came time 
to pray. 

]\ow, I always used to think, (and more so than ever since 
1 got away from slavery,} that what made them act so toward 
each, other, was the habits they were in, of abusing other peo- 
ple. If they had treated the slaves in a friendly manner, thev 
would not have had such bad hearts toward one another. 



CRUELTY. 

I knew an old slave and his wife, who had become so in- 
fura they could not work. Their master wished to get rid of 



ANDREW JACKSON. • 25 

them, so he put them up to the lowest bidder to be taken care 
of. The mail that got them was a drunkard. He did not 
care what became of them so that he got his pay. He put them 
into a small hut, and fed them the refuse of his table where he 
fed his dogs. One night the old man fell into the fire in a lit 
and died, his wife being unable to get him out ; and the only 
remarks made about it were—" Well, poor old man, he is out 
of trouble and suffering." 

I once saw, while at work on the turnpike near the spring?, 
a laboring man taken off the road and flogged and paddled un- 
til his body was beat to a pumice. He could not work for 
several days. But as soon as he could move again, he was 
driven to work, with as litile mercy as if he had been a galled 
horse. And if one of us said a word in his behalf we were 
knocked down. O, it used to make my heart bleed, and I 
could scarcely keep my hnnds off the overseers. I could men- 
tion a great many cases, but I forbear. 



PREJUDICE AGAINST COLOR. 

I have heard a great many people at the north talk against 
having the colored people associate with whites. And I am 
willing all should exercise their taste in such matters, but the 
only'objection I often find, is pride'and love of oppression. — • 
I have often been to dances got up by the colored folks at the 
South — the slaves, and when we were all enjoying our amuse- 
ment, some of the white gentlemen would come in and crowd 
us off the floor and make the girls dance with them — and if 
we showed the least resistance of such aggressions upon our 
rights, we were knocked down, and if we laid a hand upon 
the gentlemen, the law punished tis severely. 

Now if there is so much «• natural repugnance" to color, 
why do these young men take so much pleasure in crowding 
into their society, in such unmanly ways, and trampling on all 
laws of honor and decency '! And why are there so many chil- 
dren at the south almost white ? And why do the gentry all pre- 
fer colored servants and waiters 1. I think it is something else, 
altogether, than prejudice against color. It is hatred of cast?^. 
They degrade a?, and hate to see us trying to rise to itilslli- 
gence, hunor and happiness. 



'/6 . LIFE AMD ADVENTCIIES Of 

I have often been traveling, uhen during the night, while 
darkness gave us all one color, my fellow passengers, would 
remain as quiet in the coach with me, as if I were a white 
millionaire, but as soon as day-light came, they were violently 
attacked with colorphobia, and talked loudly of throwing me 
out, although I had paid my fare. I always felt proud, howev- 
er, of the consciousness that it was not any thing that reason 
and judgment condemned in me — for when thtse only acted, 
I was treated like a human being. But when pride and pre- 
judice speak, it is in language of haughtiness. If men were 
all blind, the black man would be as good as the white man — 
for their muid and heart would be put in the scale and not the 
color of the skin. 



HOW THEY DECEIVE EACH OTHER. 

Slaveholders often p'-actice deception on each other, and the 
slaves at the same time. I once knew a case. A man want- 
ed to sell his slave, but the purchaser was afraid the '* boy" 
would not stay with him, His master then agreed to pay the 
slave twenty dollars if he would tell the man who talked of 
buying him, that he was willing to go, and would stay with 
him. The slave agreed to it — but as soon as the bargain was 
closed, the man refused to pay the twenty dollars, and the "T)oy" 
refused to go. A quarrel ensued, and came near resulting in 
blows. The slave was finally bound and taken off — but ran 
away in less than a month. 

I knew a case of a drunken slaveholder, who, in one of 
his *• sprees," traded off a good horse for a blind one. He 
came home — and in the morning, when he found out how he 
had been cheated, he offered his slave "Ned" twenty dollars 
if he would trade him oft' to advantage, or sell him for a 
given sum. 

Very few persons will ever purchase of a slave, except 
when they think they can make a great bargain and escape, 
it being contrary to law. But on this occasion the slave 
knew too much for the white jockey. He rode the horse ofT 
to a place of public gatherings and managed to exhibit the 
JAnimol, which was a beautiful one, to the best advantage.— 
At length, when he appeared to be riding off, a jockey came 



ANDREW JACKSON. 4 27 

np and enquired whose horse he had. Upon being told it was 
his master's, and that he had permission to sell it, the jockey 
asked the price. 

*< One hundred dollars," was the answer, 

'* Why does your master wish to sell him !" 

*' Oh, he has some faults." 

" Oh, he throws his head down to drink so quick it jerks 
the bridle from Massa's hands," — or, perhaps, a number of 
triflin-g- objections were given. The man thinkiug- the horse 
worth $150, oftered 93. It was taken, and Ned started for 
home, wall knowing that if pursued, he could silence the com- 
plaints of the purchaser by reference to the law in retrard to 
*' tradini^ with slaves without license." 



EXPEDIENTS TO GET LUXURIES. 

It is so often the case that slaves do not enjoy the good 
and wholesome food necessary to make them happy, that 
they often resort to every possible expedient to obtain it, 
A few cases I will mention. At one time we had been 
kept for a long time on corn and potatoes with a littles 
salt, and our " mouths watered," for the *' flesh pots'" of 
our master, as did the Israelites after a long diet on man- 
na.^ How to get it was the question. We finally hit and 
agreed upon a plan which succeeded. It was at the time 
when opossums were plenty and fat. We asked and ob- 
tained permission to go out opossum hunting, and killed 
several. On our return we killed two good fat pigs, skin- 
ned them and buried the skins and entrails. Then skin- 
ned our opossum's and buried the bodies, while we put 
the pigs nicely dressed and seasoned into kettles and 
boiled them. While the odor was rising to sharpen our 
appetites, master came in, and inquired what we had in 
our kettle. " A good fat opossum," was the reply, and 
the skin was presented in proof of our statements. With 
this reply master seemed satisfied and walked away, re- 
marking, as he went — '^ well, you can live like kings if 
you chose now— opossums are fat and nice and make a 
good dish for you" But didn't we laugh w^hen he was 
^one— especially, \vhi1e eating the pis for opossum ■ . 

€ 2 



2S h LIFE AND ADVENTURE^) 

When a turkey or fowls were wanted — we used to catch 
them— dress and eat them up in the night taking care to 
leave the feathers so scattered around as to indicate the 
havoc of Foxes, and were always ready to follow our mas- 
ter's wishes in hunting for the Foxes after a night of their 
depredations. 

When potatoes were scarce, and we wanted a mess, it 
was very easy to dig a roast there, and then leave a rail 
out, or a bar down to give the appearance of their having 
been taken by the hogs. Frequently the hogs were driven 
into the field previously to informing our master that they 
were in the potatoe field. 

Various expedients of this kind were resorted to ; but not 
always successful. And some may think it was very wrong. 
Perhaps it was ; but we were often very hungry too, and could 
see no reason why, since we were compelled to work without 
wages, we should not eat the fruits thereof. Especially, since 
pious masters forgot the command, "thou shalt not muzzle 
the mouth of the ox, that treadeth out the corn." I doubt 
whether many of our own northern laborers would deem it 
a very great crime to eat a pig, or even an ox, that might be- 
long to one who was compelling him to labor year after year 
^cithout pay. At any rate, it could not be expected that poor, 
uneducated, " ignorant" slaves should know any better than 
"to yield to the *' first law of nature," self-protection, and oc- 
casionally infringe the more refined rules of civilized and 
Christianized Society. 



MORALIIT OF SLAVES. 

Are these slaves, with notions so limited and confused, with 
whom the strongest argument is the bloody lash, susceptible 
of morals 1 There must be some ideas of order to understand 
goodness, to feel the charm of virtue ; there must be a will of 
one's own, and that will must be exercised to contradiction 
before it can courageously battle with vice. The slave 
then, in his destitution of light, and his prostration of will 
cannot have a character for morality. Good and evil to 
him, are what ho is commanded, and what he is forbidden ; 
his will is only that of other people, and his whole energy 



OF ANDREW JACKSON, 2[} 

tends to destroy in him his own self, the conservative prin- 
ciple of every being, for the sake of putting in its place 
the capricious selj of somebody else. Ask a slave if he 
can get you such and such a thing, if he can be free to 
perform for you such a task, he judges from these ques- 
tions what you desire, and not having the strength to say 
no^ which would perhaps displease you, he answers afFn-m- 
atively; and the more you seem to desire what you ask, 
the^more he adds to the promise. I have remarked this, 
whenever I have addressed them, whether I had really need, 
or wished only to try them ; but no sooner have they left 
you, than they give themselves no further trouble about 
their promises ; they act as if they had forgotten them, 
and the next time they see you, it is with the same assu- 
rance as before ; shame for a lie is unknown to them. A 
lie is often useful to them, and the truth so often disas- 
trous, and their aptness at a lie is such, that they take in 
sustaining it, an air of assurance and tranquility which im- 
poses upon strangers ; often the terrible preparation fop 
punishment, and the redoubled blows of the whip cannot 
extort from them the truth. Of course we no more expect 
to. find in them that species of fidelity which respects the 
property of others ; can those who have no proji^erty them- 
selves, and know not what it is to have it, find any thing 
good in a virtue which is never otherwise than harmful to 
them ? 

d3 



3il J.IFE AM) ADYKNTTRES OF 



TFIE CANDID EMUIRER 

HONESTLY CONVINCED, 



BY THE 

• 



Clos(^ Reason of Truth ! 



FIRST CANDID REASON. 

The strongest reason why we should root Slavery out. 
and burn it up by love ; test the matter, and fear not ; evil 
shall not hurt thee; I know the God of peace will stand 
by His truth and by His nnen and messengers. 

In AIcK^don, fV^aync County^ JV. Y. 



WESTERN SECTION. 

I rejoice to say that I am well received in this part of 
New- York. I am lecturing every even'ng, and I have 
great congrogations on the- liOrd's day, to hear me expose 
all kinds of infamy. I have given but a brief sketch of my 
true condition, and our own State, as a family. 

5^ou may judge for yourselves ; I will speak according to 
my knowledge and the information which I received while 
a slave, iVom my brother and others. 

You have learned already that Mr. Isbel was a man of 
intemperate habits. He was also a very licentious wretch 
when he was in liquor ; but when he was not drunken he 
was very kind to his wife and family, and also to his slaves. 
But it was a very* hard matter to keep this man sober while 
liio Deacon contiuned to treat him. • 



ANDREW J.VCKSON. 3'^ 

€ANBII> THOUGHTS UPON MINLS I ERIAL DUTV. 

CHAPTER I. 

Text — Watch.. 

1. I am of the opinion that all ministers and exhortcrs are 
in duty bound to solemnly expose all sin, and urge Chri3- 
tians to act under a feeling sense of duty. 

2. And if we live as GOD would have us, we will not live 
after the world and all the pleasures thereof; but as minis- 
ters of Christ, we should look after the souls of the human 
race, rather il^nn the purse. 

3. And then we will have to deny ourselves of the honor 
of men, just as our Savior did; for he has taught us what to 
do if we will be his disciples : Mat. x 33. And he thattaketh 
not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me. 

4. Did Christ go into any village and settle himself in a 
fine mansion, and then ask a large salary for doing what 
God commands us to do, without money and without price 1 

5. No my brthren, it is not self-denial by any means, for 
the minister to live in pomp, while millions of our own cit- 
izens remain in moral darkness, destitute of the gospel, 
because the ministers have not obeyed God. 

6. 2 Tim. iv 1. I charge thee before God and the Lord 
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his 
appearing and kingdom ; pieach the word, be instant in 
season, out of season ; reprove, rebukej exhort, with all 
long suffering and doctrine. 

7. For the time will come when they will not endure 
sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap 
to themselves teachers, having itching ears ; and they shall 
tarn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned 
unto fables. 

8. But watch thou in all things, endure aflictions, do the 
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

9. Can any minister claim the name of Christ's disciple. 
who hath not the power of discernment to see the respon- 
sibility which he must bear] 

10. The more I learn of the word of God, the greater 
is my strength in the lirm and glorious principle estab- 
lished in his law. 

c 3 



32 I irt AM) ADVENTURES Oi 

11.1 am atone, and 1 will stand forever alone, if I can- 
not find men who will yield to the claims of God. I see 
that all the principles of the Gospel are designed for the 
elevation of our race. 

12. What I speak I acknowledge, I speak with shame, 
when I lind professed christians that will set a white table, 
and then set another tor a minister that God saw fit to cre- 
ate of a diirerent hue. 

1.3. And seeing these thinjrs, I see the necessity of pres- 
sing trne, pure, unadulterated truth, to overtiirow error of 
every description by the gospel. 

l-i. My dear beloved brethren, let us look around our- 
selves and see what we are doing. What is the prospect 
of that minister who shrinks back from duty because the 
brother deacon rather not hear it ? 

13. Close, and very important questions, are evidently 
necessary for us to ask ourselves and our brethren, and by 
so doing we may understand where we are as ministers, 
and as professors of Christianity, and as professors of re- 
publican principles. 

16. And if we will do this, we can always stand firm, 
unshaken in our faith. Dearly beloved friends and fellow 
travelers to eternity, I ask you if you have faith to believe 
the Bible 1 Yes 1 do. Do you live in accordance WMth 
the commandments of God, the giver of every good and 
perfect gift? ^Vhen it is convenient I do, if God's pure 
and holy law doth not come in contact with rny wicked 
will ; and whenever, and wherever I see the law of God 
standing in direct opposition to me in my wicked political 
career, then I bid defiance to every law of God, and do 
just as I see fit. But my friend is your will to govern all 
the higher powers and all the glorious and sublime prin- 
ciples exhibited in Divine >Vrit. 

17. rdlow travelers to Eternity, we see a great work 
to do, 

18. And we are bound by everything that is pure and 
just to honestly protest against the slavery of Kum, and 
every other kind of sin, even American Slavery not ex- 
cepted. 



ANDREW JACKSON 3'i 

CHAPTER II. 

1. V>^atch. I say again in the language of God, watch. 

2. What I say unto one, I say unto all, watch. This is 
one amon^ the many commandments, and as a minister of 
Christ, I view it as a brief and comprehensive one, and 
worthy of regard. 

3. And everything pertaining to the nation's safety, is 
depending upon us. Brethren and Sisters, let us see to it 
that we discharge our duty as Christians and as ministers 
of Christ I understand the term minister to apply to ev- 
ery Christian person, or to a foreign minister, chosen or 
appointed by national authority. 

4. And indeed, we are all under the same obligation to 
yield obedience to the Great Supreme Ruler of the Uni- 
verse. 

5. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the 
hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. Man should be as 
active as a gold watch in good trim, ever right ; and then 
it is evident if any person set his by the gold regulater, it 
will be right. But if it be a brass watch, and always too 
fast or too slow, and never right, how can any human be- 
ing tell without the true time, what to depend upon] 

7. Oh, why will men be so destitute of all reason] what 
can be the state of that man's mind, who depends on sa- 
ving himself from all Christian responsibility and refuses 
to watch. 

S. But the end of all things is at hand : be ye therefore 
sober, and watch unto prayer. Yea, the end of our teach- 
ing, the end of instructing sinners the way of life eternal. 

9. The end of informing the poor and destitute, — those 
millions that are this very moment living in these United 
States, in a far worse condition than any other class of 
persons were ever in. And shall we stand afar ofTl No, 
Peace, peace, is the cry of the mass, while we have no 
peace at all. ■ 

10. War is upheld, and many persons are very indignant, 
and cry out against war. 

11. Yes, we find here, even among you, my friends, men 
who claim to be republicans, yea more, even the name of 
ministers of our holy religion, upholding war. 

12. But since I have been endeavoring to ghow our miR= 

c 4 



3-4 LIIE AM) AI'VKNTCKES OF 

isterial duty I tlud myself in deep distress, in my ovv'u 
mind. I find our ministers, with but few exceptions, un- 
willing to rebuke the sin of slavery. Now if it be all our 
object to promote the salvation of souls, we must let it be 
known by our acts. Fellow laborers in Christ, we may 
keep silent, but if we do eternal ruin must be our fate, — 
What an awful doom. Tliere are thousands, yea, millions 
of our race in this nation, that have ..o Bible. Those poor 
down trodden people cannot be heard in their own defence. 
Shall we be dumb, or dearly beloved, shall we speak for 
these poor people, that the Holy Bible may be put into 
their hands, and that the grace of God may nourish all our 
souls? 

Therefore I speak fearlessly in behalf of the great prin- 
ciples of eternal justice. My business is to seek wisdom, 
and to do tiiis I must yi«ld to the commandments of God. 
I find all persons ready to acknowledge the sinful and dc' 
structive influence of the slave system, and with all this light 
and knowledge, we see them go ©n from one degree of dark- 
ness to another, and talk of light and liberty ; while every 
a<*t we see them perform is directly in opposition to light and 
liberty. How can any person believe such ? 



CHAPTER HI. 

My dearly beloved brethren in Christ, we are called upon 
by the word of God, to go into all the world, and preach the 
cospel to every creature wfthout money and without price. 
Who can receive this saying? Who will go and preach and 
put their trust in the Lord ? Can we find one Minister in 
all our country, of any order, who is prepared to come out 
against every sin in the land ? We do find some, but they 
are few and far between. 

I speak with candor and with shame, to say the least, 
when I see men of learning shun to expose the darkest and 
most destructive sin that can curse any people, or any na- 
tion under the sun. It matters not in my estimation who 
may be the props or supporters of that system. And yet we 
do find professed republicans, and so-called Christians, and 
pretended ministers of Chri?t, nil doing the business of the 



ANDREW JACK.SON. 



eaemy ; yea, ministers who claim the name of statesmen are 
true and bold vindicators of infamy, drunkenness, murder, 
chicken fighting, horse racing, and slaveholding-— but for us 
to drag all this into the Church, it would not do. These 
things are now tolerated in all slaveholding states, and hun- 
dreds of these persons are the sons and daughters of minis- 
ters, and some thousands of thcbC persons are the very same 
characters we have reason to recognize as children of Christ, 
and can God be just and stand by and see saints selling their 
brethren and sisters 1 Can any class of Christians and 
Christian ministers, slide into the highest classes of honor 
among men, by thus treating church members and ministers ? 
Brethren, beloved in Christ, we find it very important for 
us to reprove these hypocritical professors of religion. I 
will give you to know that I am one of the strongest oppo. 
sers of all these heathenish and wicked institution's of slav,e^ 
holding and rum drinking. 



FOOLISH THOUGHTS COMPLETELY USED UP. 



1. Thought first. —You thought that we were poor, de- 
graded beings, because we had not arose to eminence in 
the sight of ungodly oppressors. This fact is developed 
to every person that is capable of reason, everv act of this 
Government should suffice us all. 

2. I ask in the light of God's shining face, if you are so 
simple as to suppose (hat you can take away all our privi- 
leges from us of arts and sciences ; and then call us fools 1 

3. You may think us cattle, sheep, or old iron tooth 
drags. 

4. I know that any Government, claiming the name of 
a republican government, that dares to treat three millions 
oi her citizens as this government treats us, proves itself 
to be in reality just what it thought us to be. 

J. A mean and sneaking, low, contemptible, government, 
^hame, shame, on the men who call the poor fugitive mean. 
U ye American citizens, read this, and when you read it 
biush for shame. 



36 LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF 

6. I charge you to think from what one of your cattle it 
sprung. I ask you to stop, and look at all your noble in- 
stitution?, and see what wonderful progress you are ma- 
king. You have got so far toward the sublime principle 
of liberty. 

7. That a man must be wedded to that foul system of 
slavery, before you can elevate him to any great official of- 
fice in this union, if you have any desire to be a foreign 
minister, first become a poor unfortunate slave-holder. 

8. And then a liar ; tell us you hate the institution, as 
bad as any one else, but cling to it, and show how bad you 
hate it by hugging it. Away with such foolishness. I 
may well call my motto for a witness ; hear it ye tyrants, 
it brings deep distress: "foolish thoughts completely 
used up." 

I must confess with shame, it is bad to see any that are 
so bitter against that foul institution, that they even vilified 
us for acting God-like against it, by doing good that liber- 
ty might prosper in this nation, and make it respect itself 
and look higher than to ask any evjl. 

That noble God-like principle of Liberty we must cher- 
ish, if we intend to be democrats in principle, and own our- 
selves to be friends of man because we know him to be 
our equal brother in the sight of God, and we know he can- 
not be any thing less in the sight of an intelligent man ; 
and therefore any individual whose views are so narrow 
contracted that he cannot distinguish the difference be- 
tween an ox and a man, is a fool ; and as true men, we are 
bound to withhold our votes from any such men, because 
they have not got sense enough to define what democracy is. 
When such persons are desirous to establish their democ- 
racy, or more propeily speaking, hypocrisy, we always see 
them look for a man as near like themselves a.Si possible. — 
This you deny, and prove your folly to every sober, candid 
person, for I heard a number of very respectable ladies say 
that if they could vote to establish a system of government, 
they would try to elect consistent men, such as would ear- 
ly into effect and honor themselees and also their constitU' 
ents, by so doing. 

But our men have different views. We find the mass al- 
low us to say that slavery is truly the greatest evil that can 
be inflicted upon mnnkind, when we see ouv aflectionate 



ANDREW JACKSON 37 

fathers dragged away from all their rights, from wife and 
children, and carry us off, away from our dear mothers, and 
finish this awful work by lacerating our sister's backs, to 
compel them to yield themselves to insults and abuses, such 
as none but slaves ever witnessed under the sun. 

We are compelled to submit to the most flagrant crimes 
that man can endure, and all this by law. Yet ye say we 
hate it ; it ought to be done away ; we have looked at it for 
years, and our minister has prayed against it ; and he is a 
very good man; we all like him. And our church is all 
anti-slavery, and we have passed some resolutions con- 
demning the sinfulness of slavery. And one was a little 
doubtful, lest by any means we should hurt the cause, by 
taking such high ground. We carry out our principles; 
we would not let a slaveholder preach in our pulpit. 

I would like to ask you, my friend, with kindness, how 
you prove to the world your enmity towards slavery. — 
You tell me you pray against it, and talk against it, and 
tell all your neighbors what a cruel thing it is. But when 
yor vote do you speak X I am of the opinion that you do 
not let your acts correspond with your words. Your re- 
ply is, I vote for men that tell us they are very bitter oppo- 
nents of the institution. But we fear that the course pur- 
sued by Liberty men will have bad effect, and strengthen 
the chain of ihe oppressors. 

I am a poor,. weak-minded, ignorant fugitive, but ever 
since I can recollect I always had sense enough to know 
that by taking a good file, and continuing to use it, it would 
not strengthen the links of any chain, but without fail, will 
surely cut them in two. 

Take off the chains, 
Cut them in two, 
And ease our pains. 
As saints should do. 

That God alone may approbate, 
This honest, noble cause, 
And truly free each southern state, 
And rend their oppressive laws, 



3S LUL A>D ADVEISIURES OF 

That virtue there may grow, 
And we to honor rise, 
And every bond-man know 
His Savior in the skies. 

O, that God may grant us, 
Each our heart's requestj 
And send our blessed Jesus 
To take us home to rest. 

I think you see wherein you are used up. You have 
acknowledged too much when you said slavery was the 
worst evil to arpfue with me, that we are bringing a worse 
evil than it. There is no foundation for such folly -, it is 
scandalous to hear any person claiming the name of a re- 
•publican, talk so. 

I regret that we have any among us that have so little 
self-respect as you who are found guilty of making an 
apology for that Heaven daring outrage upon man ; and 
not content to violate every principle of right, but blow it 
abroad through the land that we are strengthening the 
chains. I would like to have you show me a man m that 
town or in the universe that you are able to convince, that 
filing a chain-link will strengthen it. Sir, it is too absurd 
to make a fool believe it, and you know it. I am in hopes 
that you will not be fool ennugh to use such foolish words 
any more and call it argument. I consider it such plain 
foolishness that it has not the shape of argument about it. 

Then true liberty men are the only class of men that are 
vcrearing away our national disgrace of slavero. This is 
the teachino of reason ; because all pro-slavery meii are 
the very men that are guilty of the alleged crime against 
the abolitionists. When LIBERTY men tell how they 
deprecate slavery, they are prepared to prove it by corres- 
ponding action. But wheu pro-slavery men tell with what 
repulsive views they look at the horrid institution of slave- 
ry, we find them ever prepared to do any thing to keep our 
party together. We are true liberty men, but if we vote 
for a liberty man it will advance the strength of the slave 
power, — it is a foolish idea. I come to you and tell you 
the hogs are breaking through the fence and destroying 
your crop ; but you say Lknow it. What is the reason you 



ANDREW JACKSON. 3^ 

let them destroy your crop 1 O, I can do nothing. And 
because you cannot do any thing, you go and get all your 
neighbors' hogs and turn them in. You would be as con- 
sistent to take that course, as to go to the ballot box and 
try to elect a slaveholder to carry out your liberty princi- 
ples. I am of the opinion that you have had your princi- 
ples carried cfut by men of naughty habits, until we are left 
to hunt for principles in vain, for it is gone, and forever 
gone, unless we see to it soon. 

O reader, you should not fail to understand me ; when I 
speak upon this topic I speak my views. I mnst confess 
to an intelligent world of mankind, when I speak it is with 
shame. I have above thirty years experience in this boast- 
ed land of Bibles and of Liberty, and it is with difficulty 
that I can read a chapter. I am ashamed to acknowledge 
myself an American born citizen, from the fact she treats 
millions of her citizens with such contempt, that she has 
truly degraded herself as a republic. 



THE HEART SEARCHER OF RIGHT. 



I wish to convince every person that reads this production, 
what slavery is by nature. And I think it will convince you, 
reader, what such a system is by practice, under existing cir- 
cumstances. 

I cannot hold my peace while I can speak against the un- 
godly system of injustice that is filling up the cup of misery 
and grief. I am bound to remember that sad instant, when I 
took my aged grandmother by her hand and bid her a long 
farewell forever. I shall never forget how hard she tried to 
prevail with me to remain in that slave cursed region, al- 
though she had been doing all their work, and drove to toil for 
her father, who styled himself her master. O, who can ima- 
gine the condition of a human being placed in such a wretch- 
ed condition. Held as the property of a father, who is bound 
by the highest authority to train up his children in the fear of 
the Lord. But my kind and affectionate grandmother was 
obliged to suffer all such outrages as this. And this was not 



40 LIFE AND ADVENTURES Oi 

all by any means. Her handsome daughters must be insulted 
and abused, and humbled, and made prostitutes of by the un- 
limited control of the tyrants. This is what the poor woman 
had to endure. I thank God that I have not any family there 
to suffer all such cruel abuse. I ask who can tamely submit 
to all these wrongs, where every principle of justice must 
submit to insult and injury ? 1 cannot and will not Namely 
submit to that Heaven-daring, God-dishonoring, Hell-deserv- 
ing sin. Do you think me too hasty in denouncing it as un- 
worthy the fellowship of us that know all its bearings. Yea, 
it is all this, and niore, and worse. I can convince you, 
reader, of this fact, if you are capable of reason. The natu- 
ral results are sufficient evidence of my statements. I must 
pass some things that are so humiliating I have to blush. — 
Shame, shame upon that man who is so contemptibly mean 
as to rob my dear old grandfather of all his earnings. And 
then, not content with all that, they must, lion-like, take the 
last child, and leave the poor old man to suffer. This is the 
nature of slavery. 

I remember that sad countenance when I bid farewell with 
my poor old grandfather; the big tears come gushing from 
his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. O, grandson, you can- 
not better yourself; you will be taken and killed or sold ; you 
are now in good standing in the church, and to runaway and 
be taken will ruin you ; you will be silenced from preaching 
and turned out of the church. Such was the kind entreaty 
of that gray headed grandfather, although his locks were sil 
vered over with the bleak winds of many winters. 

This is the nature of slavery. It goeth forth at its pleasure, 
biddin^r us of its victims trample down every law of God. — 
Yea, all self respect must bo thrown away. We are urged to 
gratify these wicked, ungodly, oppressive wretches, yi all their 
lusts, — when they would come to our wretched huts, directly 
from the grog shop of Stephen, half drunk, just steeped in 
rum, gin or brandy. 

To our poor shanties they come because the are handy, 
Poor slaves are degraded, kept by the dandy. 

This is the nature of slavery ; then let it be denounced to 
the w'orld by all clergymen in the United States, and then 
the M-ork is complete , slavery is; at once and forever over- 
thrown, and our country free. And then we who style our- 



selves American freemen can rejoice together, witli friends 
that are near, and kindred so dear. 

I can call to my recollection the Christmas morning when 
I witnessed one of the most horrid scenes I ever saw in my 
life. While I speak it is with difficulty that i can li^ld my 
pen ; I am not mad, but my sympathy is so strong, I am lost 
in astonishment to see the iiidifierence manifest on the part 
of human beincrs. 

The easel here mention was the sale of a friend and his 
family. George, Sally, and three children. Munroe Tuck- 
er, of Edmunstou county, purchased two of the children ; 
Mr. Porter of Allen county, purchased the wife and one 
child J and Frederick Potter, of Warren county bought 
George. My eyes saw the sight and my ears heard the 
shrieking of those aft'ectionate children and their tender 
hearted mother. I am aware that if such scenes should ©c- 
cur in your observation, you would take hold of the work 
with new zeal. 

Let us fnrther consider the matter : if it were your wife 
and children wearing the tyrant's cords, would j''Ou be found 
voting for the man tk&i could not distinguish your wife from 
old Pide, the spotted cow, or those children from Buck and 
Bright, your oxen, and that lovely daughter, ranked with 
hogs and sold for gold, I ask what kind of an anti-slavery 
man is he who is guilty of voting for men that cannot or 
will not show any ditlerence between human beings and 
beasts. And by men of this kind my father was sold. 

I am often made to lament when I think how that poor 
mother wept when her husband was chained and carried 
away from her, and away from his two sons ; and from his 
father and mother, and from his wife and sisters, friends and 
home he was compelled to go. He was a member of the 
Baptist Church, but this is not any guard against being 
sold. Our Methodist clergyman could preach and tell how 
he could feel for poor sinners in their wretched condition. 
But I am of the opinion that any clergyman who can preach 
and rob men and women of all their labor, and traffic in the 
members of the church to keep up the church, I tell you 
plainly what I think of any member of the church who 
will consent to the right of any layman or any person to 
be the owner of any human being, theyliave not any piety 
unless it be in the tails of their coats. And when they go 

D 



4,'J LIFT. AND ADVENllRr.S 0^ 

TO flc^ their slaves, they run throuf;h the bushes and briars 
after us, and they lose the tails of their coats and all their 
goodnes<5. 

The old priest, Wall, always had his coat iu the old style, 
and \v^en he was not in a hurry he was apt to t:trip us and 
whip us. But ho prayed when he was flogging us, saying 
Lord have mercy upon you, I am afraid you will make me 
sin so much I will never see heaven. 

Joseph Robertson could not subdue Mary, the little slave 
girl, and thi^> ungodly l\Ielhodist priest sold my aunt into 
the hands of old John Steely, a noted drunkard. 1 sliould 
perhaps nialce one apology for priest Robertson, for such 
triflinP" thino-s as chaying his church members through the 
thicket?, and selling his race lor gain. Though I am told 
in the free north that slaves are kept by these good men to 
keep the poor unfortunate things out of bad hands. And 
all these good men always kept their kegs of whisky by 
them and 1 think that a part of them will go to the keg ten 
or twelve times where they do not once take the Holy Bi- 
ble in their hands. 

Are these to be our religious teachers', to direct us through 
this world of wretchedness, misery and woe I I had much 
rather go alone than to be conveyed by a poor, drunken, 
slaveholding clergyman. I am aware he is lost who tells 
us thev are on the right road to heaveii, and are determined 
\o get thi're, and yet continue to steal and iudd slaves. 



\PPEAL TO CONSCIENCE. 



P.V ANDREW JACKSON, 



Through Vennsylvania's mountains.. 

Her hills and valleys low. 
We hope to see the tbuntains, 

()f freedom rise and How, 

May peace from sea to shore run. 

I 'ntil the v/orld shall know ; 
And Tyrants ever strive to shun, 

His virtues where they grow- 



ANDREW JACKSr.X. '^8 

Tiiougli many threatenings do rage, 

By grace we may ei::dure ', 
I\Iy God will give us couroge, 

And keep our rights secure. 

Through many sore temptations, 

We may expect to pass, 
For many dear relations, 

Now in their chains are fa;5t. 

To you who spurn the glory, 

Of honor peace and love, 
Come listen to my story, 

And let us meet above. 

"Where men from every nation, 

Shall have their just reward ; 
And then by free salvation, 

We'll sing and praise the Lord. 

m 

For the School in Idumea, Otsego county, >'. Y. 

CLEAR VIEW OF DUTY. 

BY ANDREW JACKSO?^. 



I will speak in a poetic style, 
Hear me for a little while, 
If w^e were in Britain's Isle, 
Our philanthropic blood would boil 

liadies and gentlemen, 
Beat this if you can ; 
I appeal to this school. 
Learn to write now by rule. 

I see you'll have to scratch, 
Or else you will find a match — 
Come lay hold of it my friend, 
Let rno see how fast you mend. 
D 2 



1 J 



J.IFB A.NJ.) ADVE.SriKF.S OF 

Every one Uiat can, 
Ought to show himself a man — 
Show your skill -with your pen, 
Let your parents see it then. 

Time is placed within your reach, 
Yield to iiim that is to tt^ach, 
I^ay hold of it while I beseech, 
Cling to it like a leech. 

Never show j^ourself a fool. 
Sittinor on the idlestool, 
Lazy in the time of school. 
Playing like the tyrants tool. 



ANDREW JACKSON. * 45 



APPE 



To the Good Judgment of every Sound Uoasoner. 



BY AISDREW JACKSON. 



(7ont«n<,s, ---Matters of great Magnitude. All who wish to set-ure a ropy 
should avail themselves of this opportunity. 



CHAPTER I. 

God give me wisdom this once. 

I take my pen in hand, my dear friend, to inform you that 
I am well in body and also in mind, if a pure gospel could 
be held forth by true ministers of the cross, men who would 
not shun to declare the whole counsel of God, without regard 
to the influence of wicked men, or Demons of Darkness. I 
.<?hall further consider these matters. 

I need not make any excuse to you for taking my freedom. 
I do not think sir you c&n blame me in the least for such a 
small offence ; you know very well you would run away every 
chance if you was denied the right to your wife whom you so 
dearly love. I may be wrong in my liberal views, but I be- 
lieve that I am right, though your slaves are all well near yel- 
low or white as you may call them. I do not blame the poor 
little yellow things for being half and three-quarters white, 
neither do I condemn the helpleSs girls, for these things. I 
shall blight not the character of any person for these wretched 
acts which are practiced in your kitchens, and I am sorry to 
say that your colored man, Thomas, your exhorter, lived with 
a young single girl, and each of them members of the church. 
I know it made a great fuss once in the church, but it was 
soon hushed, and the wrong continued. 

Why is all this tolerated in your churches ? Answer me 
friendly, for I am in a very good spirit ; ' I do feel for your 

D 3 



4i; « Lll-E AND ADVr.NTl'RF.P Of 

soul ; 1 iippe to .sco you liappy, aiul I helieve you are desiroufi 
to gain Heaven. Your kind instruction which you gave me, 
I have not forgotten, and as one who must account to God, 1 
?poak to you in kindness, with brotherly love. I hope you 
will excuse my plainness and read the following production 
and iiive me an answer as soon as you receive this letter. I 
hasten to a close as soon as lean ; you must not be weary in 
well doing, but be patient. 1 pray thee fur this once, (hat ye 
listen to the kind instruction of a friend. T shall write you a 
long letter. I wish you to read for your own instruction ; 
lake heed how you treat this God-like subject, for this letter I 
h.>pe will be plainly and openly read in your church, for I am 
of the o;)inion it will do great good if it can ftnd admittance 
into your hearts, May God of his infinite mercy give you 
grace and save you by the application of Jesus' blood. 

Above all things friend, lay these glorious God-like prin- 
ciples betbre all your friends and my enemies, and my dear 
connexions ; tell them I am sick of Canada, and wish to 
come home, and cannot find any way to get back. I wish 
you would send me a little money to educate myself with ; I 
am trying to study for the ministry. I hope you will favor 
my request. I think I can complete my education with three 
hundred dollars by my own exertions. If your circumstances 
are such that you cannot favor me with money, I hope you will 
\yrite to me any how, for I am ready to help you at any time 
when you are in need. I am not mad with you by any means. 
I am aware if we have not the spirit of union in love, we 
cannot see God in peace. Let us consider there things now, 
before it is eternally too late with us. 

Vou will please tj direct your lettn- to the Pujlishers of the 
Star, Syracuse, Onondaga county, New-York. This is the 
commencement of my long letter which I promised to send 
you. Knowing you to be a man of a great mind, I believe 
vou will r^n.i the following paaes like a saint of God. 

A. JACKSON. 



.4N'T)f{F.W .TAi-'KsON", 47 

CJIAPTER II. 

-"Mark my niolto, sir. 1 must learji knowledge by observation, 

as it is my duty to gam instruction from every thing in existence. 

Maj. General Andrew Jackson, of Kentacku. 

^ To Stephen Claypool— Dear Friend: I take this opportu- 
nity to inform you that I am well at present, and 1 hope these 
lines may tind you well and in proper frame of mind for the 
reception of the truth. I have a great many things I wish to 
say to you. Permit to me .speak my opinion kindly and free- 
ly, unbiassed, free from all worldly contamination'^ 

I had (he pleasure of attending meeting last nighty with 
great joocl ^i^^ much satisfaction to my soul; I had the pres- 
ence of the Lord with me, I thought a great many things 
concerning old Kentucky. While my soul was drawn out by 
the spirit of God, I thought about you, a professed Christian, 
claiming us, your brethren in every sense, after you have ex- 
tended the right hand of Christian fellowship to us,' yet sufier 
yourself to go on just like other wicked ungodly* men, and 
continue to procrastinate and retard the progress of our dear 
Redeemer's kingdom. You may think me plain this time, 
but I tell you the truth in the fear of God, and you may re- 
ceive it and secure your soul from hell, where the shrieks of 
all the old rum-drinking slaveholders will render you more 
wretched, miserable and degraded than ever we poor slaves 
have been, whom you claim as your property, subject to all 
kinds of wrong. V\'e m.ust bo penned up like ^heep, and sold off 
like cattle, by our own brethren, which I know must be the 
kind of brethren that Paul spoke of in 2d Corinthians, chap- 
ter xi, verse 26ih : " In journeying.? often, in perils of waters, 
in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in 
peril.'>^ by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wil- 
derness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren." 
This is the kind of goodness and mercy that we see and feel 
among contemptible slaveholders. These perjured villains 
are justly represented false brethren : for we are taught in the 
gospel of God this great truth : " But be not ye called Rabbi, 
for one is your Master, even Christ — and all ye are breth- 
ren."— -Matthew x.xiii, S. Every person whom God hath cre- 
ated, that is capable of reason, can see his obligation to God. 

For the sake of honor among men, you continue to prac- 



13 T.llF. AND ADVF.Ntl'KE-'^ 

tice licentiousness and polygamy. Wc are made to do all 
this, and worse ; wc must go away from all wc earn, and 
leave our homes, and all our friends and dear relatives behind, 
subject to every abuse, insult and injury that man in his vile 
lust can possibly inflict upon his brother man. "We have to 
be bought and sold at the will of wicked, idle, ungodly oppres- 
sor:-, just like cattle, contrary to our wills or without any re- 
gard to our wishes, to keep you lor a young go'd, to lord it ov6r 
Christ's heritage, and preserve you from starving to death in 
your idleness. I know all this is bad, but j^ou continue to 
practice it upon men. 

I canni)t help but think of my brethren that you still hold 
in bondage. Is it right for you to treat us, your brethren, with 
such contempt? Christ died for us. O how can you be so 
hard and oppressive to that Saviour who suffered so much for 
all mankind. And must he continue to bleed and agonize, 
while vou continue to seam his back with the rugged lash.— 
Behold his blood comes gushing at every blow. I retcr to 
the niaht I saw vou lacerate Bradic, and Manuel, and mv 
brother Elijah, and myself, with the cow-skin. 

I will speak to you in poetic style, sir. 

You will bleat and ba-a loud as your goats, 
Gorge down dear slaves and strain at mote.?, 
Then seize your laborers by their throats. 
And keep them, men in ragged coats, 

And this is tyrants' union. 

You raise tobacco, corn, and rye. 

And drive, and thieve, and cheat, and lie. 

And strive to satisfy your eye, 

By making switch and cow-skin fly. 

And this is your foul union. 

This poetry represents you slaveholders, you who keep us 
in ignorance, and deny us the right to read the Holy Bible of 
Divine truth, which Christ hath commanded us to read: — 
" Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal 
life : and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not 
come to me that ye might have life." — John v, 39, 40. 

Y^e are the very class that Jesus spoke of in Matthew xxiii, 
13 — 17: " But wo unto you. Scribes and Pharisees, hypo* 



ANDREW JACkSON. 4^ 

cntes ! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men 
tor ye neither go m yourselves, neither sufl'er ve them that arc 
entering to go in. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hvp- 
ocrites! for ye d-voOr v/idows's houses, and for a pretence 
make lon^ prayers : therefore ye shall receive the greater dam- 
nation. Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for 
ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte ;" and when he 
IS made, ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than 
yourselves. Wo unto you, ye blind guides .which say whom- 
soever shall swear by the temple it is nothing ; but whosoever 
shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Yc 
fools and blind ; for whether is greater, the «?old or the temnlo 
that sanctifieth the gold ?■' ^ ' 

The commandments of God are of little use to us, if we 
are not allowed to obey them. The law regards us as o-ood« 
destitute of any right to read the blessed Bible of divine in-' 
spn-ation, which is able to make us wise unto salvation ; and 
I. have wondered in my own mind if it v/ould be with them as 
it IS with those who can read the sacred word of (jod. I am 
honestly convinced that the Holy Bible cannot be blamed ; 
it contains the right of each person when it tencheth us to love 
God supremely, and that ''thou shalt love thy neighbor as 
thyself." ^ I undeTstand this to be the teaching of God, and as 
a child of God it is my duty to endorse this doctrine. And I 
can prove that the stand which I have taken is not a new wild 
notion ; Christiant^ have seen the propriety of serving God. 

*' Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, we 
ought to obey God rather than man. The God of our lathers 
raised up Jesus, whom ve slew and hansed on a tree " \cts 
V, 23. ' 

I find the Bibc is what we need; it is without fault; the 
fault is in you, because ye refitsed to yield obedience to the 
law of God. 

I am lost in astonishment when 1 see the wretched condi^ 
tion of infamy that those persons have fallen into, that are 
capable of reading the sacred word of God, but the fact thaC 
some persons have put their education to a bad use does not 
stigmatise knowledge. The intelligence of these my coun- 
trymen, refutes the idea. I see something beautiful and sub- 
lime in knowledge. I find the great principle of God is im- 
mutable, and cannot be changed by all the powers of human 
agency upon earth. Thny cannot change the duty of man to- 



E 



50 LIFF. AND ADVENTURES 05 

waido God. Tiie time is truly at haiitl when all Christ's chil- 
dren must and will slaud up tor the redemption of mankind, 
to redeem them from the eurse of slavery. I know this was 
the spirit of Cinlst: " For we have not an high priest which 
cannot be touched with the feelings of our infnmities ; but 
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without our sins." 
Then he could not be a slaveholder, for we all understand the 
j.)ollution of it. 



CHAPTER III. 

I inul in reading about my dear Redeemer, that he was a 
man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Isa. i, 3. 

I must try to have the i^pirit of my Divine Master, that spir- 
it of love, that kind and ibrgiving spirit, even when he was 
reviled he reviled not again. This spirit I know is of God, 
and I am determined to have that spirit; I will live by that 
spirit, and make it my theme to hold fast my confidence in 
this spirit, because I am taught it is that spirit alone which led 
the Apostle to utter these M^ords: " Cast not away, therefore, 
your confidence, which hath great recompense ol» reward." — 
Heb. X, 35. 

You should remember that you have need of patience, that 
after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the prom- 
ise. I will remember you at the throne of grace. " For the 
fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and 
truth'" I love the fruit of this spirit, it makes me feel that 
kind forgiving disposition, which Christ ever manifested 
among persons of every description. 

I will forgive you for all the wrongs you have inflicted upon 
me, and I hope God will forgive you and help you to repent 
of all your deeds. 1 suppose you will think it very stranga to 
see a thing take the stand I have in favor of the uncompromi- 
sing principle of right. I ask you to give your attention to 
this subject; I do it tor your soul's sake; 1 feel for you, and 
I will pray for you, that God may open your blind eyes,- and 
cause you to see your awful condition of living in sin and dy- 
ing in tolly. my dear friend, I hope you will bear with me, 
while I ask you a few important questions. 

J . What would you do if the slaves should seize one of yout 



ANDREW JACKSON, 51 

dear little children and sell it into the hands of an ungodly 
rum-drinker to toil upon his soil, and receive for wages hick- 
ory oil for long and dreary years? 

2. I ask you if such treatment is christian treatment ? you 
answer no. 

3. I ask you if such treatment is kind 1 you answer no. 
4-. I ask you if God has given you any right to sell persons 

as you have been guilty of doing. 

5. I ask if you are authorized to sell children by the will of 
God? your candid answer is no. 

6. What can that sister think of such piety as that which 
sold her dear little infant? I refer to the poor little child which 
you sold to pay Joseph Gilmore one hundred dollars. But 
you say we hold men for their own good and not for gain.— 
Why then do you sell persons ? O I do it when I cannot pay 
any thing else. 

7. I ask if that case is the only one that you have been guil- 
ty of breaking up families ? No. I remember a number of 
cases of your agency in selling those who have fallen into 
your hands. 

We must remember that great good has been accomplished 
by the virtue of truth, and I shall deal plainly with you and 
expose your vice in this letter. You could always instruct 
and teach me my duty, and you know it is your duty to let 
the oppressed go free, because God commands it. — Isa. Iviii,. 
1-6 : '< Cry aloud, spare not ; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, 
and show my people their transgression, and the house of Ja- 
cob their sins. Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose' 
the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let 
the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke ? Is it not 
to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bringest the poor 
that are cast out to thy house, when thou seest the naked that 
thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own' 
flesh? 

Do you let your life and acts correspond with the gospel ? 
No ! Now I ask you to repent and secure the salvation of your 
soul. I see your awful danger ; I feel for you in your lost 
condition ; I pray Almighty God to awaken up sensibility in 
you, and cause you to see and help you to feel your danger. — 
Be candid with yourself; although you can trifle with man, 
God is not to be trifled with by ungodly oppressors ; no, I see 
the testimony of this fact in every thing that ex'sts in nature, 

s 2 



y^ 



I.IFE AND ADVENTURES OF 



God has revealed this truth to us in His holy word, and ye 
know it. I earnestly plead for the rights of all my race, and 
more abundantly the' lovely sister that ye have insulted with 
vour cruel abuse. Wo unto you, you blood-thirsty tyrant, for 
ye continue to starve the hungry, and ye refuse to clothe the 
naked, neither do you let the oppressed go free. Wo unto you, 
un'Todly slave seller, ye have put the yoke upon the image of 
your God, ye have not brought the poor that are cast out to thy 
house. The slave is poor, he is cast out of society, out of 
school, deprived of Liberty and of the Bible. He is compel- 
led to work like an ox. He has no more right to ask wages 
than your goat. Evidently he is poor, wretchedly degraded 
by you, notwithstanding God has taught you what is your duty 
towards vour fellow men. As a christian you should let the 
world know that you have been with Jesus, and show to the 
wicked and the rebellious around you, that your piety is so pure 
that you will obey God. If the commandments of God should 
be obeyed, strictly adhered to, and carried into effect, the peo- 
ple in this nation would be a happy people, a loving people, a 
temperate and free class of citizens. 

But I re^rret to see our present state of degradation, when I 
think of my country as it is in the 19th century, under the 
control of blood-thirsty tyrants, supporting laws that are con- 
demned by the God of the universe. As a nation we may ex- 
pect a curse ; I look for the visitation of God upon us. These 
are stubborn facts; v»e have to meet them ; they are staring 
us in the face. " Shall I not visit for these things 1 saith the 
Lord : shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this 1 
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land ; the 
prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their 
means *, and my people love to have it so ; and what will ye 
do in the end thereof?" Jeremiah v, 29-31. 

My next copy shall be some fuller of matter, friend. God 
continues to admonish us by his servants to be brave ; you 
cannot get rid of responsibility. God holds you and all other 
ungodly oppressors accountable for all these flagrant acts. — 
Jeremiah xxii, 13 ; xxiii, 1 : again xxi, 12; xxiii, 3. Now 
we see the threatenings of God. This is the Lord speaking 
to us by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah it appears was an 
eminent man of God ; his views were remarkable and sub- 
lime with respect to the duty we should perform. '* Wo unto 
liim that buildeth his house by '.mrighteousness; and his chani- 



ANDRE W J A C K SO.\ * 5 3 

bers by wrong ; liiat nseth his neighbor's service without wa- 
ges, and giveth not tor his work. Wo be unto the pastors 
rhat destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord- 
house of David, thus saith the liord, execute judgment in 
the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hands 
of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that 
none can quench it because of the evil of your doings. Thus 
saith the Lord, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and 
deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor ; and do 
no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor 
the w^idovv, neither shed innocent blood in this place." 

What could be more sublimely set forth than these God-like 
rules of right. Do you pay those hands that perform your la- 
bor, and toil in the heat and cold, day and night, week after 
week : without any pay, 

Months and years boys toil, 
For hickory oil ; 

I saw^ you make the cow-skin crack 
Upon the poor slave's back, 

whom ye have crushed, and robbed of all their rights ; you do 
not give any pay- at all. 1 tell you kindly that you are con- 
demned before God and an intelligent community. Friend, 
you should stop and look, see what an ungodly influence you 
show to your family and all those around you. When I think 
of your guilty acts of barbarity, which you practice among 
your slaves, 1 blush, it is so revolting to nature. I refer to the 
night I saw you drag the poor old colored minister out of bed, 
away from his wife, denying him the right to speak in self- 
defence. how bad it appeared in my sight, though I be one 
of those poor illiterate class of persons. How must these things 
appear in the sight of God, whose eye is watching all things. 
Although you do these things in the night, when virtuous per- 
sons are asleep, God hears the cry of his ministers. He is 
nol asleep while jrou are flogging ministers of Christ. I wish 
you to think of the bloody back of that veteran of the cross^ 
when he was 

Beii'ding his way, leaving his dear wife, 
Whom he had chosen for his companion in life^ 
E 3 



54 Uk'F. AND ADVENTURES OF 

Subject to the tyrant's control in their strife, 
M'ho shall have Mary the minister's wife. 

AVhat makes those things look so dark, and damning, is 
the alarming fact that these things are not tolerated alone by 
the inebriate, and non-professors, but you who profess to love 
God and your brethren, practise these things upon the same 
persons that ye meet with to worship monthly in Rock Spring, 
or liiberty meeting house. 

What injustice can be inflicted upon any of God's intelli- 
gent race that will compare with the system of slavery which 
must ha\ e hold of the wealth of three millions of her citizens, 
and lay her iron grasp upon all we earn, and then tell us we 
are not men. 

She sets her iron hoof upon the old man's neck, 
And takes the wife and sons on deck ; 
O how can a human heart be made so hard. 
To see his brother of all his rights debarred. 



CHAPTER IV. 

I wish you to remember that I am in my right mind. While 
I speak these words solemnity prevails in my mind. What 
are your feelings in your moments of sad reflection ! Have 
you ever stopped to consider 1 No. I thought a candid think- 
ing man could not treat persons with such contempt, were they 
to stop and look at themselves but for a moment, and consider 
that this is not man's abiding home, it would doubtless be dif- 
ferent. V>u\. with you ungodly oppressor all is self, self, self; 
big I and little you ; if you can have the comfort of living 
with your wife and children, you disregard the rights of those 
your brethren, being admitted into the pales of your church. 
I have not time to give you a full statement of the wrongs 
that transpired in the range of my observation, when I had to 
go like a livery stable horse, to any one who saw fit to pay the 
largest sum. Money I want, yes I am pushed for cash ; I 
shall have to sell a human being. Go Jack, to Hickman, 
then to Isbel ; now to Bounds ; back to Wall ; then to Prun- 
ly ; off to Robertson ; now to Price ; £^0 to Noles : then to 



ANDRLW JACKSON. 55 

Bralton ; quick to Adams ; awayto Dackelt ; Uien to Ivins ; 
round to Claypool ; now to Ford ; then to Ray ; i){> to Witii- 
row ; go Jack, go Andrew, go it Niger, I paid for you ; down 
to Dun, run Jack, run ; off to Kern's :j oppression, oh how 
it burns ; over to White ; now to Haly. 

I have toiled for others more wretched than they. 
And some of them brothers, that drove me away. 

I pray that God may look upon us with a propitious eye, 
and forgive us our sins. My heart exults, my soul is full 
of glory ; I am now with the people of God ; they do 
not know any difference in human beings ; it is evident that 
where ihe spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty, but where 
the spirit of the devil is there is slavery. Like a large 
portion of ungodly oppressors, you profess to love God, 
and hold his image in abject bondage. Woe be unto you, 
ye wicked ungodly tyrants, how long will you practice 
these wrongs ; turn ye, turn to God and live. I rejoice that 
I ever learned that Jesus Christ hath died for us the apos- 
tate race of Adam. 

These things write I unto you lest by any means death 
should lay his icy arms around you, in your state of wretch- 
edness. I hope that God through the instrumentality of 
this truth, may open your blind eyes, and melt your hard 
impenitent heart ; I tell you my dear friend you are in the 
dark ; yes ye are blind and cannot see afar off. 

Hear ye the word of the Lord. Rev. xxxi 18 : Because 
thou sayest lam rich, and increased in goods, and have 
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, 
«ind miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel 
thee to buy of me gold tried in the lire, that thou raayest 
be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not ap- 
pear ; and annoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou 
rnayest see. What beautiful instruction we have, but Oh, 
how little it is regarded by those hard drinking oppressors ; 
they are not honest neither are they sober, therefore you 
Jiave not any moral principle. This counsel is so kind that 
every person should take it, and be true to God, and re- 
ceive this gold and be rich. 

But amidst all the instruction of God which is so lovely, 
yet ye choose blackness and darkness, cleaving to the 

E 4 



^-6 LIFE AND advf.n ri-ars oi 

ihijig- of ilii;^ vvorl<] which suifily pass away, an»i will soon 
le 1)0 more, and will leave you poor, nolwiilislaiiding the 
great riches held forth to you, by the servant of God, in 
iri'lh. 1 bless Ood for aH tliese things ; I find that God 
will instruct his saints ; yea, and by his almighty power he 
will nourish his children. 

My heart exults, my soul is full of glory, I feel the pow- 
er of these great truths, T have nnore of the power of God 
upon me now than I had the night when you came into the 
hitchen, where wc poor slaves were,singing, and remarked, 
well you are all very happy, I can hear you singing but I 
never can hear you praying. I replied, we pray every 
night. You requested me to pray, remarking I wish to 
hear you. I fell prostrate before God, and invoked his 
blessing upon you. I prayed for you then by your request. 
I pray for you now because I love your soul, and desire 
your haj)piness. I am obliged to be plain with you : I hope 
you will read the following facts with candor, and coiisider 
this great subject, and decide for God. 

U'hat will a God of justice do with professors that are 
guilty of living by man-stealing, as you kmow all tyrants 
do ? Do ^rou think God will approbate those professors 
who are all the while robbing the poor and destitute, ma- 
king them more wretched, rather than follo\ving .he exam- 
ple of Christ, who went about doing good? Do you sup- 
pose the eye of God is no^ watching all your acts of infa- 
my "? If you do, I am sure that y<3u are deceived ; the 
Pevil is trying to deceive you, and destroy your soul. I 
plead with you before God, to listen to my kind entreaty. 
I demand in the name of God, freedom for all the race^f 
Adam, and more abundantly that you let your slaves have 
ihsir liberty ; unless ou do, the time will come, when you 
will see your condition, and realize that your case is truly 
miserable, ihe wrath of God will surely abide on you, 
Then you will see your nakedness, and your blindness, and 
your poverty in the light of God's shining face. 

Come let us reason tofijether like Christians, and be kind 
in so doing. This is the best way to do business of this kind, 
more especially when we are doino- God's service. If you 
have afiy desire to be happy in this life, and rejoice with 
Jesus Chrisc our Savior, and with all his saints, who have 
washed their rob<^.s and made them white in his blood, you 



ANDREW JACKSON. 57 

* 

raust repent of all thene things and turn to God and live a 
new life. God required repentance in fuiiner j ears. God 
is ilie same, and therefore it is your duty to repent, and 
confess and forsake your sins, and turn do God and live for 
him who died for you. 1 appeal to your understanding as 
a man. I appeal to your reason as a member of the Free- 
will Baptist Church ; do you understand the definition of 
your profession. I think not. I understand the term freC' 
will lo give each peison the power of acting at their own 
pleasure in the sight of the great omniscient eye of iTe- 
hovah. 

You must remember that I tell you the truth in love and 
you must obey this truth. Unless you do so you will soon 
see the infamy you have brought upon your own head by 
that spirit of avarice and covetousness, which diabolical 
spirit alone has controlled your judgment, and you have 
lost sight of every noble principle of humanity, and turned 
away from God, and have p-one after Satan. I am sure the 
eye of God is upon you. Hehas a book of record in which 
all your bloody crimes are registered. O what will be 
your condition when the grim monster, death, is breaking 
vour tender heart strings ! When your nails on those fin- 
gers which seized the little children in their infancy, are 
turning blue ; and when your sparkling eyes are sinking in 
your head ; and when your feet that now convey your mor- 
tal frame, are cold like clay ; when your last hope of re- 
covery is lost in darkness, gloom and despair, it will doubt- 
less be a sad moment to tyrants then ; when your deathless 
spirit must take itsfiightto meet its final doom. 

Receive ye the word of the Lord ; Isa. iii 10, 11. Say 
ye to the righteous that it shall be ill with him ; for they 
shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked, 
it shall be ill with him ; for the reward of his hands shall 
be given him. 

i thank God for the prospect of the righteous. I see the 
glorious promises that are held forth to us in the gospel. — 
Although you may deprive us now of our rights, and earn- 
ings, and of ail the fruits of our doings, it shall be well 
with us when we shall hear the welcome applaud, '' come 
ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for 
you from the foundation of the world :" But to the wicked, 
ungodly oppressor, ho will say, "depart from me ye cursed, 

" E 5 



58 ^ LITE AND AbVENTimES 

into everlasting punishinenf, preparer! for the devil and liis 
anj^els, iVoni tlie foundation of the world," 

I am bound to do all in my power to put down villainy of 
every description, and stand up for the spread of the Gos- 
pel of light. 



CHAPTER V. 

And for this reason I disregard the opposition of all ilie 
wicked, ungodly oppressors, with all their influence. I 
stand tirm : Christ is my rock and my salvation. Lord, 
thou God of Daniel ! thou who didst deliver the Hebrew 
children out of the fiery furnace, 1 thank thee for thy loving 
kindness, O God ; for thou hast delivered me in time of 
trouble out of the hands of these my enemies, with all their 
blood-hounds and bull-dogs. Yet'thou truly hast been my 
strength in all my affliction, and sorrow, and grief and pain, 
which came upon me while I was laying in jail sick, near 
unto death, but through the mercy of God I have not a 
doubt or fear. When I read thy promises, I find that they 
that put their trust in the Lord cannot be confounded. I 
have not taken this noble God-like stand in self-defence, 
Dor simply in defence of man ; but as a Servant of God I 
have taken it in defence of my Redeemer. Think, He it 
IS that you thus insult. He it is that you treat with so 
nriuch contempt. While I write, let me direct your atten- 
tion to the motto of learning knowledge. 

^. B. While I write my eye is fixed upon an object of 
nature. I saw a cat deprive the little helpless robin of its 
young. I saw the bird in agony, and all the birds appeared 
to feel the loss of a fellow bird, and sympathize with that 
poor httle robin. Although they were not all r©bins, yet 
they were all birds, and possessed the nature of birds, how- 
ever difierent in form ; they knew it was a bird, though it 
was of a dili'erent color ; it was justly entitled to their 
sympathy. 'VVhcn I can gaze upon' the free love, and the 
kin«i affection exhibited amonor the fowls of the air, I asked 
my Father of heaven and earth, can it be true that man is 
the worst being of all thy creation. It appears clear to my 
mmd that everything: has more nfl'ection than a slaveholder. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 59 

We have this fact established even among our beasts. When 
we drive a cow away {ron\ her calf she is apt to run back 
to it. We may take the mare away from the colt, and she 
will run back to it ; but you ungodly oppressors are so hard 
and so wicked, that you sell infants — taking- them from 
fathers, mothers and every right. I cannot describe my 
feelings when I look around me and see the affection of 
birds and brutes, ic makes me think of my dear Redeemer 
in his condescension toward suffering humanity. Now if per- 
sons all possessed the same spirit of kindness of these things 
where nature has not been controlled by prejudice, there would 
not be one found in all our country that could live by robbery 
or by fraud ; if persons all had the spirit of Christ, we would 
not see poor mothers weeping for their children as we do. — 
Now we notice the contrast ; the cat took the helpless bird : 
man was guilty of the depredation of taking" the helpless 
child. The cat did not take a cat ; but man has taken his 
felloit; man. Stephen Claypool, thou art the man. Thus spake 
Nathan unto David : 2d Sam. xii 7. 

Think of this matter. How can you endure the thought of 
appearing before that God who cannot look upon sin with the 
least allowance, with his heart-searching eye. And if you 
fear offending God, emancipate your slaves! 

Have you a desire to make heaven your home, then see to it 
that you emancipate your slaves ! 

If you are desirous to be a happy man, emancipate your 
slaves ! 

And if you will be honest with God and men, emancipate 
your slaves ! 

If you expect to see vital piety increase, emancipate your 
slaves ! 

If your intention is to adorn the doctrine of Christ, eman- 
cipate your slaves ! 

If a spark of the love of God is in you, emancipate your 
slaves I 

I kindly entreat you to emancipate your slaves ! 

I call upon you in the name of Christianity to emancipate 
your slaves ! 

If you wish to see the prison house of oppression blasted, 
emancipate your slaves ! 

I appeal to you in the ii|me of suffering humanity, emanci- 
pate your slaves ! 



t^') ^ I-IFE AND ADVENTURES OF 

1 beseech you in the fear of God, by this entreaty, to eman- 
cipate your slaves ! 

If you ever expect to see your children industrious and en- 
terprising, emancipate your slaves ! 

It you are desirous to see this Union prosper, emancipate 
your slaves ! 

If you are desirous to see the price of your land increase, 
emancipate your slaves ! 

If you wish to see millions of God's poor have equality, you 
must emancipate your slaves! 

I plead with you before God to set the example like a 
Christian before all persons, by emancipating your slaves, — 
give them their Liberty, and make them yo°ur friends. Let 
them become land-holders and tax-payers, and not taxable 
property and then you have placed them in a condition that 
will make them industrious, and also an enterprising people. 
But if you do not believe my kind entreaty, just try the ex- 
perinient and the natural growth and prosperity of the coun- 
try will prove the truth of my assertion. 

I call your attention to God's instruction, Malth. x C, 7, IG 
20. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel : — 
And as ye go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at 
liand. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of 
wolves : Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as 
doves. But beware of men ; for thev will scourge vou in 
their synagogues, and ye shall be brought before ^goiernors 
and kings tor my sake, for a testimony against them and the 
trentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thouMu how 
or what -ye shall speak ; for it shall be given you in that same 
hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the 
spirit of your lather which speaketh in you." 

The instruction which we have is of great value ; it is holy 
just and true. Even in Marcellus I was dra^rged from the 
synagogue ; in Stockbridge they hurled rotten e|gs at me, and 
m Fenner I was stoned ; in Gallenton I was compelled to 
mark my path with blood. But God says, " Go into," ^-c 

We ^vl]\ notice the contrast between the teaching of God and 
man. ^our command reads, go into the kitchen, and preach 
saying, servants be good, and obedient to your master and 
mistress, and love them and servo them ; telfthem not to take 
any thing ofi of the plantation wiliiout their master's leave • 



ANDREW JACKSON. 6i 



and by all means be sure and not spend too much time in se- 
cret prayer. God tells us to pray always. 

You know very well that you are violating the holy law of 
God in keeping slaves. 



CHAPTER VI. 

I am not speaking to you in the heat of my passion. I 
speak deliberately and calmly ; not in haste, but with solemni- 
ty and godly sincerity, in my illiterate state. I am striving, 
through great difficulties, to do all I possibly can to advocate 
justice in the land, and advance the cause of God in bringing 
about emancipation, so I can return to my native land again, 
from whence I came. Although it is now barren and unfruit- 
ful, I see what it would be if slavery was not existing there. 
I am truly astonished to see the wide contrast which is now 
before me between free labor and slave labor. I see in Can^ 
ada hundreds of fugitives living with their wives and children 
on their lots, peaceable ; yet they wish to return home. ! 

I leave this place and pass over into the Empire State. Lo ! 
I find a greater contrast ; I see on every hill and in every val- 
ley, the effect of free labor, — enterprise far beyond all calcu- 
lation. I find on this little stream, grist mills, and saw mills, 
paper mills, &c. Shame, shame, on the whiskey stills. I have 
not forgotten that you once followed that business, making man 
the curse of his companion, and also of his race, — destroying 
all the noble powers of the mind, which alone distinguishes 
nian from a brute. I ask what can be the reason of such a 
distinction betiveen Northern enterprise and virtue, and Souths 
ern ignorance and concubinaore. 

Every thing is flourishing where I am. Here husbands ap- 
pear to love their wives, and wives reverence their husbands. 
I do not speak of an individual ca^e; I use this as a com= 
mon term — a term which it calls for all over the section from 
whence I came. But they, where I came from, live like a 
pack of quarrelsome dogs, — who will and who shall, — - — ■ ! 
Shame, shame, for the rights of a person are not known 
among slaves, and nabobs who claim them. 

I hope, sir, you have ceased to do evil, and learnt to do well : 
^0 5celi i'ldgni'^n*, and to r^ievg the needy antl oppressed ; to 



# 



b'2 LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF 

judge the fatherless, and plead for the widows. O, friend, 
come, let us reason together ; let us be kind with each other. 
I will request one thing more in the defence of my own 
country — that is, let every one loose his own slaves in the fear 
of God! 

I am called upon to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long 
suffering, and doctrine. I may in all probability attempt to 
give the reader some kind of history of my perils in my min- 
istry, in which I have engaged under the blood-stained ban- 
ner of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But I intend to 
continue the conflict, till I win the prize that all those shall be 
blessed, with that continue until the end, to watch and pray, 
guarding against everything that shall tend to destroy philan- 
thropy among men, wherever we may happen to have our lots 
cast. I am resolved to see my country free from slavery and 
from rum. I am resolved to see the day that we can have Bi- 
ble Missions in our own country. I am aware that you can act 
your part to send the Bible and the Gospel to Hayti, or to Bur- 
man, or to the coast of Africa, to the heathen there, or estab- 
lish churches there, and admit slaves to be considered the fol- 
lowers of our Savior, and at the same time living in a state 
of fornication. I know this to be the case among your slaves, 
and 1 know that it is the case in all places among you where 
you have churches established. I write not these things to you 
in derision of Christianity ; it is with sorrow and regret that 
i speak of them. They have been allowed to go on to an 
alarming extent. 1 ask you to think about these matters with 
solemnity, and with Christianity to proclaim toall the world that 
you^ are sick of slaveholding, and man stealing, and woman 
whipping, and child selling. I am sure that such a state of 
thino-s is natural wherever slaveholding is practiced^ A na- 
tion that is guilty of such highhanded robbery, the Loi'd hath 
spoken unto. Hark, hear ye the wotd of the Lord, O my 
friend, for I am now going to enter into a scriptural argument. 
i ask you to follow me in .this train of thought. 

Mat. iii, 2. «' But who may abide the day of his coming, 
and who shall stand when he appeareth ; for he is like a refiner's 
fire, and like fuller's soap. 3. And he shall sit as a refiner and 
purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge 
them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an 
offering in righteousness. 4. Then shall the offering of Judah 
and Jerusalem be pleasant unto \}m Lord, as in the davs of 



% 



ANDREW JACKSON. 53 

oltl and as in former years. 5. And I will come near to you 
to judgment, and I will be a swilt witness ac^ain^t the sorcer 
ers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and 
agamst those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow 
and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his 
right, and fear not me saith the Lord of hosts. 6. For I am 
tlie Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not con- 
sumed. 7. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone 
away from mine ordinances and have not kept them • return 
nnto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of hosts — 
But ye said, wherein shall we return ? Will a man rob God t 
yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed 
thee r In tithes and ofierings. Ye are cursed with a curse, 
tor ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. '» 

I ask you to look at yourself and see how you rob God's 
gospel will tell. Math, xx, 42. '' For I was an hungered and 
ye gave me no meat, (spiritual meat,) I was thirsty and ye gave 
me no drink." I here relate to havinrr been wretchedly tFeat- 
ea. I ask you to think of it, what do you suppose our feelinT^ 
must be, knowing that we are hungry, and feel that we aTe 
thirsty, seeing ourselves naked and in poverty. I ask you my 
dear friend, where do you suppose that a human being can find 
happiness placed in this condition ? I tell you there is not any. 
All IS darkness and gloom the most dismal of any thing that 
mortal man can imagine ; the mind is in a state of moral dark- 
itcss. It IS more than I can do to tell what slavery is. There 
IS not any person upon the earth except victims who have felt 
the misery which slavery inflicts upon persons of all grades, of 
all colors, from the purest white to the deepest black, of every 
age, of the old and of the infant. Such is the patriotic insti- 
tution, or else the organic sin, yea that institution which bids 
defiance to God and to the government established by the au- 
tiiority of God, which I consider to be far paramount to the 
profligate, sublime, and peculiar institution of slavery andslave- 
holding; I must deal plainly and in love. You talk about an 
organic sin, a sin that all men are bound to uphold; and if 
there be any that refuse to go the whole hog he is self-righteous 
or ultra, or fanatic, because he has left the old party. But bet- 
ter IS it for us to leave our old friends, and old habits, and eve- 
ry old sin, and every old principU, and every old party, though 
it may bo the most popular party or an organic sin. I ask you 
it you are to be free Uofn individual responsibility ? I regard 



61 Lll^L AND ADVENTURLS OF 

every person responsible for the death of all persons that are shot 
under pretence of law, when God has said thou shalt not kill. 
I would be understood ; when I .<?peak of slaveholders, 1 speak 
of them in a scriptural view : he that biddeth him God speed is 
partaker of his evil deed. Hence, he who is guilty of voting 
for wicked, oppressive men, is responsible for the acts whi«h 
they are guilty of performing. I believe that God will hold 
every person perfectly responsible, for by our words we must 
be justified or condemned. This sir, will condemn you, for 
you must tell God what you have been doing all your days. — 
Will you continue to retard the progress of the Redeemer's" 
kingdom 1 I pray i\.l mighty God to melt your hard heart, and 
open your blind eyes, and unstop your deaf ears, and prepare 
your mind for the reception of truth ; as it is written, He shall 
judge thy people with righteousness, and the poor he will save 
by the power and virtue of truth, which is so beautifully exhib- 
ited in Divine inspiration. Luke, vi, 24 : "But wb unto you 
that are rich, for ye have received your consolation. Wo un- 
to you that are full, for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you that 
laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep." The moral precepts 
of God's law we understand shall be executed against you. 

Dear friend, I find that there is matter in this text. I have 
hope that you will read the following sentiments I advance with 
christian candor and godly fear, in faith, belieting that God 
will convict your poor unhappy soul. First, I find that the 
soribes and pharisees were quite angry, and I suppose that it 
is quite likely they began to roar and scold like old slavehold- 
ers, — filled with indignation because some person did right in 
relieving the poor and needy, — the man whose right hand 
was withered. I see he was in need, and those hypocrites 
knew the poor man was in need: yet we see the wicked look- 
ing on. "And the scribes and pharisees watched him, whether 
he would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an ac- 
cusation against him. But he knew their thoughts," &c. No 
doubt these persons talked loudly about goodness and mercy. 
I suppose those persons were in as wretched a state as I was 
in when I was lloeing from my brethren in Canada, half starved 
and almost destitute of clothing, rubbing the ears of corn to 
eat, which 1 did on the sabbath; but to return. — "And he 
lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blesged be ye 
poor for yours it the kingdom of God.', I don't caire about 
the hon*»r of nhen. biit to honor God is ^) mv theme " Bles- 



ANDREW JACKSON. ti5 

scd are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled : Blessed are 
ye that vveep now, for ye :^iall laugh : Blessed are ye when 
men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their 
company, and shall reproach you and cast out your name as 
evil tor the Son of Man's sake : Rejoice ye in that day and 
leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven— for in 
like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." 

Glory be to God and to the Lamb, I do rejoice with exceed- 
mg great joy ; yea, it is with joy unspeakable and full ofglo- 
ry, when I look back upon past history and see what the apos- 
tles endured, and when I view the sufferings of the prophets, 
and then turn my attention to the dear Rede^emer, and see his 
act of condescension, his love^ his humiliation to us the poor 
apostate sons and daughters of Adam. Yea more, when I see 
ills pierced side and his bleeding hands ; vea more, I see upon 
his head a crown of thorns,— and then he must be buffeted and 
spit upon ; yea more, he must drink the gall and vinegar, 
what has he done, I ask. '' I find no fault in him : Crucily 
him, crucify him !" Oh, hear him exclaim, *' My God my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me !" 

But remember, ray dear friend, that blood was shed for us ; 
for your sins and my sins, and for the sins of the whoJe world. 
Again comes the words of the text : " But wo unto you that 
are rich, for ye have received your consolation." You Imve 
the word of God to seal this solemn and awful fact. Yea, 
my friends, ye have received your consolation. Alas, what a 
solemn thought ; no more joy beyond this life, if you continue 
to procrastinate, and say that you know you must free your 
slaves, but you cannot do it this year. I call upon you as a 
friend, no longer to delay ; your duty is made known to you 
in this book : " Wo unto you that are full, for ye shall hun- 
ger !" And in your state of misery, finding yourself wretch- 
ed, I have not a doubt but what you will think of my kind re- 
quest, asking you to take the fetters off of the people of God, 
in view of the consequences which must follow you, seeing 
tliat if you refuse to do this, and will not get rid of the evil, ye 
have received your consolation. You may laugh now, but ye 
shall weep and mourn in the day of your calamity. I do hope 
that you will be v/ise, and give this production a candid inves- 
tigation, and then make a wise decision. "Wo unto you that 
laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep." Alas ! alas ! 

I find that this fact is referred to by the prophet Isaiah, chap. 



66 LIFE AND ADVENTI-RF,?; OF 

xxviii- 7.- -''But they also have erred through wine and through ' 
strong drink ; they are out ot^ th^ way ; the priests and the 
prophets have erred through strong drink ; they are swallowed 
up of wine ; they are out of the way through strong a^"K--- 
They err in vision ; they stumble in judgment." " For all 
tables are full of vomit and filthiness," so that there is not any 
place clean ; I cannot get rid of responsibility ; I must deal 
m the plain truth, and in the fear of God I shall strive to apply 
the balm to every wound that is made by slavery or by rum. 
I ask wisdom oflGod, the giver of every good and perfect gift. 
'» Whom shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he make 
to understand knowledge] Them that are weaned from the 
milk and drawn from the breasts." For, " precept must be 
upon precept, &c. ; line upon line, &c. ; here a little and 
there a little : For with stammering lips and another tongue 
will he ppeak to his people.'' A man of God is always prepa- 
red for battle ; the devil cannot take the advantage of him, 
for he is not found destitute. He has his equipment on, ready 
to fight against a host of the enemy. — Isaiah xxvi. 21 : ^ " For 
behold the Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the inhabi- 
tants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also shall dis- 
close her blood, and shall no more cover the slain : Them that 
ye have slain, shall stand before Gpd and testify against you, 
for you have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not 
resist you." 

But God will reward wicked persons according to their 
works : then the earth shall also disclose their bloody crimes ; 
the wickedness that is upheld by ungodly persons that have 
not got principle enough to save their souls from irretrieva- 
ble wo, may their nakedness be discovered unto them, that 
they repent and turn to God, and live for Him who died for 
us, to bring us up from degradation and restore us again, by 
his all atoning blood, that we might have access to the ban- 
quet of his love, and be made like Him ; for then we shall 
see Him as he is, and dwell in his glorious courts, and we 
shall then be a class of loving christians, and not one saint 
or church member selling his brother or his sister, or a pious 
father, in pretence that God could look upon such a heaven- 
daring sin, and smile at the poor heart broken mother, which 
is a christian mother, and ask that mother, " woman why 
weepest thou !" Ah, I weep not for the wrong that they have 
inflicted upon me ] but I weep because they have treated my 



AN'DRF.W JACK SOX. »>7 

dear Redeemer with such contempt. I iaiow that God is a 
God of mercy, and he can save me and my poor dear little 
children ; and he is a God of justice, and I know that he wii! 
punish the nation that is engaged in the traffic of selling and 
buying human beings ; or in other words, dealing in souls : 
and may the God of heaven bless your souls and save therrj 
forever and ever. My exhortations and reasons why I takr 
the stand I do, is because it is right in the sight of God and 
an intelligent community. 

Yours in love, 

Your humble servant, 

A. JACKSON, of Kentucky. 



CHAPTER Vir. 

Again, my friend, permit me to remark that I do not vin- 
dicate the principle of reform, moral or ecclesiastiacl, nor po- 
litical, because it has the name of reform. I advocate these 
principles from the fact that I see that the age in which we live 
does require that every citizen should examine into the rights 
of every person, to understand when their own are safe. I 
deny the assertion that men sometimes make, that if the poor, 
illiterate, crushed sons of our native soil be permitted to say 
who shall be their law makers or their rulers, they will be the 
aristocracy of our country. T should not have supposed that 
an intelligent person would ever have harbored a thought of 
that kind ; but I will admit it may be the case : then we should 
all be the better. If your theory be correct, which I shall not 
deny, then I will take you upon your own ground and beat 
you, admitting that these persons should redeem themselves 
from their degradation and rise to an eminent state by the res- 
toration of their rights. 

Behold the crushed intellect, smothered by aristocracy. I 
Call upon you, reader, to stop. You will soon be arrested and 
brought before the tribunal bar of God, and then I ilnd there 
will be no more opportunity for you to delay your suit. — 
Ij will be too late for you to attend to this great matter when 
God shall call yon to appear before his shining face. When 
that penetrating eye is sternly fixed upon thy heart, then it 
will be made manife.st to all the world what you have been 

f2 



6S LIFE AND ADVENTURES OT 

doiiif' bv making slaves of millions of those persons here in 
our coaiilry that have a right to be protected according to the 
Constitution of the United States. 

! remark, that in proportion as light continues to increase 
m this land and nation, the infamy and cruelty must naturally 
increase, from the fact that the longer a nation continues to 
procrastinate the more wicked it is; ycci, more diabolical and 
mean — 'tis contemptible. Slavery in a land of Liberty ! I 
deny the existence of any such thing : it is absurd — there is 
not any such thing — there is no reason in such an assertion. 
I will try to give you some reasons why I take such vehement 
ground : it is because I know that the two things that are 
brought to our view — Liberty and Slavery ! are antagonists : 
they cannot exist upon the same soil, or under the same gov- 
ernment ; they are at war with each other. One is to exclaim 
to the other, " I will have the country — old Liberty, get off of 
me !" And then you hear illustrious Liberty exclaim, " Where 
the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty I" I know tiiat I have 
got tliat spirit, and I shall surely triumph by pressing my way 
oil, amid all opposition. 

With this spirit I mean to go on, till I see the last person 
free, and each inhabitant rejoicing with his own wife and chil- 
dren, around him, under his own control, or under a govern- 
ment that will take off all unjust restrictions, and see that the 
wants of the needy are all supplied by throwing around the 
strong principle of justice according to reason or righteous 
laws, that are holy, just, and kind, administered with an eye 
single to the honor and glory of God. 1 do believe that a gov- 
ernment established upon this principle, would render us a hap- 
py people, a healthy people, and also a virtuous and intelligent 
people, an enterprising and a wealthy people, and if so, then 
let us have a government upon this principle. It will make 
every intelligent citizen feel that he has a duty to perform as 
an inhabitant, and then it will naturally follow as a matter of 
course, that the greater part of all our community would be 
striving to understand what our rulers are doing with the pub- 
lic money. This is the duty of every citizen to understand 
what is their duty, and pry into the proceedings of the gov- 
ernment, nnd see that they administer it according to the 
Constitution of the United States. 

Let me lay before you a fugitive's thoughts under this gov- 
ernment. 1st. What business has a class of ungodly nnen to 



ANDREW JACKSON. 6^ 

that which I have toiled to earn. You tell me the law takes it, ] 
I will admit that the law takes it ; but tell me, will you, who it I 

is that use it? It is not the law that is so avaricious. The law i 

neither eats or pockets any thing. Why then, I begin to in- 1 
quire, is the law so foolish and so deeply concerned about that ■ 

which is none of its business. " 0, well, well, the lawyer has 
to live." I know the lawyer has got to live ! I wish to know 
how the lawyer can live by that thievish law that always has 
robbed me and half starved me, and raced me down, — pompey 
and lion,- bose and tiger, all in pursuit of me. The lawyer 
must be a thief if he can live by the corn that I have toiled to 
make, which I cannot say I have^a right to use. Why, be- 
cause it all belongs to the law let the lawyer take it. I will 
tell you what I thought, fellow citizens; you are full of hy- 
pocrisy, who tell me that the law is a wicked thing, and very 
tyrannical. I am in the habit of stopping to think. 

Tell me a little more about the character of this bloody 
monster. How did he get into power 1 Did the tyrannical 
villain take his long horn and throw the senators and the peo- 
ple's representatives out of the legislative halls? 0, no. 'W^ell, 
friend, what fault can you find with a law that you acknow- 
ledge is innocent, — was never known to take the President's 
chair, or kick men out of the Senate ? Can the people get rid 
of national responsibility ? I answer in the negative. There 
is not a person upon the earth that can think what vice is tole- ' 
rated in that country by the slave power. But I must close 
my letter, to be continued by your request. 

O, let the God of peace comfort your hearts, and save your 
immortal spirits, even now and forever and forever more. 

A.J. 

F 3 



70 LIFE ANI> Anvr.NTU'Rns OP 



READ W I T II CANDOR! 



^\E MAY ALL BLUSH WHILE WE SCAN^ THIS 
MATTER ! AS A REPUBLIC, O SHAME ! ! 

While I write I have before me a plain testimony of the 
statements I have been making concerning our national dis- 
honor. I have in my possession a Southern paper, entitled 
" The Floridan : by S. S. SIBLEY, Tallahasse, Florida, Sat- 
urday, September 12, 1846 : Vol. xviii, No. 8." 

Any person by calling upon me can see the original, which 
I iiere have copied, by request it will be seen, by my readers. 

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. 

RANAWAY from the residence of the subscriber, (at New- 
port) about the 26th ult. his negro fellow SAM, a light color- 
ed mulatto, about five feet eight inches high, and about 40 years 
old. He walks with a stooping, lounging gait, hesitates and 
hems when spoken to, and wears whiskers. He speaks with 
a drawling, up country accent, and is rather an intelligent fel- 
low. He was raised in Early county, Geo., on the Scwhat- 
chee, some twelve miles from Blakely, and was there owned 
by Mr. John Roe. I will give twenty-five Dollars for his ap- 
prehension and delivery to me, or on his being lodged in the 
Tallahassee Jail ; and seventy-five Dollars in addition, for 
proof to conviction ot his being harbored by a white person. 
It is likely he mav have a pass, but it is forged if he has. 

JAMES ORMAND. 

Newport, Fla., August 15, 1846. 4t 

{j:^ Sentinel please copy. 

I suppose Mr. Ormond will not be mad at us for having 
complied with the request ; but great is the scandal to us as a 
people claiminjT the most glorious name of any other na- 
tion, and when we pick up a paper to inform our minds, the 
first thing we see is one of our citizens advertised because 
he has walked out where he can be among those in another 
clime, and under a diflerent form of government. I am glad 
that our boasted Republic, as you may call it, extends not o'er 
all the laud ; for if such a republic could be established, we 



ANDREW T.Ark'qoN', 71 

should be doomed to live a life of degraded servitude, or vas- 
saled eternally. 

RUNAWAY IN JAIL. 

COMMITTED to the Leon County Jail, on the 18th inst., a 
negro man named COOK, about 75 years old. He says h*' 
belongs to Thomas Butler ; talks bad English. The owner 
is requested to come forward and take him away, or he will be 
dealt with according to law. 

J, W. SHERWOOD, Jailor. 
July 26, 1846. i 

When I see poor old persons, who are old enough to sit down 
quietly and take comfort in the enjoyment of their early labor, 
1 find that in this glorious land of gospel darkness and oppres- 
sion, they must be chased, hunted and shot like tigers. It is 
a disgrace to our nation — a scandal to you as a republic, and 
a sin in the sight of God, ; therefore it is the duty of every per- 
son that can write to be up and doing. How can we slumber 1 
I am filled with new zeal when I see these things before my 
eyes. My God ! my God ! What shall we come to if these 
things are to be let pass unrebuked by us ministers of Christ ! 

BROUGHT TO JAIL, 

AT Troupville, Lowndes County, Georgia, on Monday the 
1st ult., a negro fellow, about 5 feet and between 6 and 9 
inches high, very straight built, walks quite erect, with a 
complexion inclined a little to yellow, very intelligent, 
speaks fluently, countenance inclined to be grave when not 
speakinfif, teeth quite small, says his name is ALFRED 
THOMAS, and also says that he is free, that he has been 
a sailor, but was brought to Augusta, in this State, by his 
guardian^ who carried him to Florida as a team driver, and 
was left on foot by his guardian, with little or no money, 
and directions to return to Augusta, to which place he said 
(when taken up) he was making his way. The owner or 
owners of said negro, (if any he have) are requested to 
come forward, pay expenses, and take him away. 

MORGAN G. SWAIN, Jailor. 
Troupville, Sept. 2, [12] 1836. 8 9t 

W^hat can be more revolting to nature, what must be the 
condition of that man's heart who gave us the above intelli- 



72 LIFE AND ADVENTURES OP 

fence. Hj informs us the man with a black skin is very in- 
telligent, though our oppressors say we cannot learn any 
thing ; but when it is necessary to publish the true character ot 
a man, then we are inlbrmed that these persons are intelli- 
gent, and when this is acknowledged by slaveholders them- 
selves, we cannot doubt these things, for we see this fact devel- 
oped to every honest person. When we see these poor crushed 
beings make their happy escape, and get an education, we can 
begin to see and realize to some extent how slavery tends to 
destroy the intellectual and the perceptive powers which be- 
long to man as the birthright of every intelligent being. But 
notwithstanding all these rights, wc must be hunted and taken 
up in the highway, brought before wicked rulers, and condem- 
ned, cast into jail like thieves, because we cannot show a free 
pass, as they term it. Although we tell the whole world we 
are opposed to monarchical government, we cannot be enti- 
tled to the rights of citizenship until we land our heads into a 
monarchical government, and there we are found destitute of 
all the comforts of life, although we have been toiling for years. 
O how can any one doubt the wrongs which we are compel- 
led to endure 1 When you read their advertisements, I ask 
you what crime under the sun can be committed that these 
men would not commit, who have given us their names in 
staring capitals. I am of the opinion that some of you 
would make as much noise as I do, were yo"u to realize this 
matter as you should do. And remember, those that are 
in bonds as bound with them ; you would not be found pray- 
ing for the spread of the gospel and the advancement of 
Christ's glorious kingdom, and through a wicked prejudice 
these men cling to these parties which stand connected with 
men that are so contemptible and worthless as to subscribe 
their names to these advertisements in our free and boasted 
republic. I recommend the propriety of taking such per- 
sons up for such outrages upon all laws of honor and de- 
cency among a civilized people. 

And I have now in my possession another document, 
which contains the following advertisements : 

$100 REWARD. 

RANAWAY from the subscriber, living on Herring Bay, 
Ann Arundle County, Md., on Saturday, 28th January, ne- 
gro man ELMAH. who calls himself Elijah Cook, is about 



AxNDREW JAX'KSON 73 

21 years of age, well inade, of a very dark complexion, has 
an impediment in his speech, and a scar on his left check 
bone, apparently occasioned by a shot. J. SCRIVENER. 
Annapolis, (Md.) Rep. Feb'ry, 1837. 

* Notwithstanding he is well made he must be shot, 

and it is evident from marks on his cheek that the attempt was 
made with the design to kill. May I not be allowed to plead 
with christian fortitude against this God provoking wrong. 

$-10 REWARD. — Ranaway from ray residence, near Alobiic, 
two negro men, ISAAC and TIM. Isaac is from 25 to 30 
years old, dark complexion, scar on side of the head, and al"- 
so one on the right side of the body, occasioned by a buck 
shot. Tim is 22 years old, dark complexion, scar on the 
ritrht cheek, as also another on the back of his neck. Cap- 
tains and owners of steamboats, vessels, and water crafts of 
every description, are cautioned against taking them on board, 
vmder penalty of the law ; and all other persons against har- 
boring or in ouy manner favoring the escape of said negroes, 
under like penalty. ' SARAH WALSH. 

Mobile, Sept. 'l. 

JMontgomenj (Ala.) Advertiser, Sqil. 29, 1837. 

§200 REWARD. — Ranaway from the subscriber, about three 
years ago, a certain negro man named BEN; commonly 
known by the name of Ben Fox. He is about five feet five 
or six inches high, chunky made, yellow complexion, and has 
but one eye. Also, one other negro, by the name of RIG- 
DON, who ranaway on the Sth of this month. He is stout 
made, tall, and very black, with large lips. 

I will ijive the reward of One Hundred Dollars for each of 
the above negroes, to be delivered to me or coilfmed in the 
Jail of Lenoir or Jones County, or for the killing of them so 
that I see them. Masters of vessels and all others are cau- 
tioned against harboring, employing, or carrying them away, 
under penalty of the kw. W. D. COBB. 

Lenoir County, N. C, Nov. 12, 1836. 



You may call this the land of the brave 

Or the home of the free ^ 
it is ^he land of oppression. 

You all can well sce> 

G 



7-4 LlFb AND ADVENlUFxLl. OK 

By rule they rob man and luaKc lii»n u slave? 
Our captains forbidden to employ men, 
Whom God hath gave a diflfcrent skin, 
Bartered for iron and sold ofT like tin. 

By whom is this done? — come make up your mind, 
The slave-holder's son his brother will bind. 

When I read these names it did not astonish me. — I was 
once shot at in my native state, when I was hired out. 1 bless 
God for preserving from harm then. 

Let us look at our christian responsibility, friends, and see 
if Ood holds us accountable for these things. 

O^my christian friends, I feel that I am truly responsible ; 
and doubtless I am not the only person who can feel upon 
this alarming subject, which some persons tell us is destroy- 
ing the harmony of the Church. You may think so ; but if 
we must have agreement it must not be by a sacrifice of prin- 
ciple. I w'ill not make any appeal to the sympathy of my 
readers to act like men. — Because we are cat-hauled, this is 
not slavery. My father was opossum hauled, and this is 
worse ; but this is not slavery. I will give my author : it was 
the young man, ELIAS WALL, that did it. But this is not 
slavery. What is slavery? I will show what it is if you will 
look at it. You cannot see it until you take off your steel 
spects, and put on a pair of republican spects. Then you can 
see plain and clear what this system is. Let your son be lock- 
ed in a black, dark dungeon, deprived of every ray of light 
save that which naturally shines through the iron grates. This 
is slavery ; but you say, O your sons are 

Not in Ihc black, dark dungeon, Dick ; 
They are, and I can prove it quick : 
•Just look at the millions of our race, 
Whom these bloody tyrants chase. 

Sec them running o'er your hills, 
Upheld — supported by your wills; 
They lock these men up in your Jaiis^ 
Then pay your sheriff off in bills. 

Is this not black and dark indeed, 
To rob (hctse persons now in need ! 



ANDREW JACKSON. ^ 75 

III their behalf we all shoukl plead, 
Restore that freedom which we need. 

Now sustain that glorious prize — - 
Prepare to meet me in the skies, 
Beyond the whip, the grief, the s'ghs, 
Where Christ will wipe his servant's eyes. 

ii you spurn these principles, fny friend. No assistance can he lend, 
You will have no Christ with you in the end; Unless sinners will attend 
Destitute of Heaven and bliss, ToHis word, obey His call; 

In pain and anguish, with distress. His free bounty is for all. 

"What a solemn thought we have when we turn our attention 
and see our present condition in life. We have blessings 
spread before us for our enjoyment, yet we see men turn away 
from Christ — away from God, and all that is endurable. Let 
us look to our own safety, and to the safety of our glorious 
Republic ! Will you refuse to adhere to this 1 Can you any 
longer delay, while these wrongs are heaving in view? Let 
Reason speak from North to South, and Justice echo from 
East to West, and bid these men who cherish the name of re- 
publicans, to rise and enjoy citizenship among us. To this 
end, and for this cause, I pray Almighty God to instruct u.> 
now and forever more, &.c. M. G. A. JACKSON,- 



g2" 



t6 LIIE AND ADVENTURES OF 

Facts briefly sketched for every honest Reader : 

BY A. JACKSON. 

"With a fine composition of his, to show the folly of some 
wicked persons. By giving you a history of facts in a kind 
of a poetic style, it will be noticed. 



Your hands are full of blood. It appears very evident that 
God is speaking to us by the mouth of His prophet. I per- 
ceive the words of the text are sentimental and applicable to 
this Nation, and to all who are adding continually to this foun- 
tain of blood. Your hands are full of blood. Every person 
that will not condemn the institution whenever they are in- 
formed on this point, is guilty, when found supporting, up- 
holding, and sustaining this sum of all villainy. 

There are persons who claim the name of christians, and 
at the same time will lend their aid in favor of tyranny and 
oppression, &c. 

The following Facts are published by request of some friends. 

I know of a truth we can walk by faith, and we must put 
forth such efforts as the nature of the case requires. And in 
eU places and at all times, under all circumstances, we will 
speak out against the system of Slavery, and against the use 
of Rum. These are two of the greatest antagonists we 
have ever been brought in contact with, and they must and 
shall be put down, I pronounce them anti-christian as well 
as anti-republican. This is true, and we must meet it in eve- 
ty spot on our free soil, under our own free laws, and by our 
Own free will in His own way, by His own power, keep your 
6ye on the object. Lose not sight of the great prize, union 
with God and all good people ; but no fellowship with bad 
persons, — such as tempt God and enslave his image. Who 
can see these things and call it christian treatment ? This 
18 the best that I can do now — keep on thinking, and speak- 
rng, and voting. Six Cents, and e:one. I will put on your 
name. Andrew Jackson. ^ HENRY SMITH. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 77 

1 The dear slave's blood, behold it flow ; 
It forms a flood ; see it go ; 

The sister's tears are dripping" down — 
For all your sins my God will frown. 

2 He will revenge for all such wrong, 
You who infring-e by armies strong, 
And claim (he name of being brave, 
Still by this fame you bind the slave. 

3 While every heait of flesh should feel. 
You take a part with men that steal : 
May God forgive us all our sins, 

And relieve us from all pains. 

1 speak of a Truth. 

Through heat and cold I toil for man ; 
'Tis not for gold, like others can, 
But virtue now is all our aim, 
Come let us show our country's fame. 

Come, ye freemen, show your own fame ; 
Rise, brave seamen, each right redeem ; 
Rend asunder those foolish rules, 
Make no blunder — spurn such fools. 

Men should all sjnirn such base, wicked, abusive, oppres- 
sive wretches. 



BROOME COUNTY, N. Y. 

April 1st. I lectured in the Scool-house, near Mr. Mar- 
tin's, to a dense congregation. 

All the respectable part of my hearers behaved with res- 
pect; but some few poor mean fellows, came into the 
house stamping, and I continued my remarks, pressing the 
truth, reg^dless of the wicked and diabolical luflians of all 
my enemies. Some of them cried with a loud voice. I 
let my (rod admonish them, by spreading His glorious, 
pure gospel before every mind, that was willing to receive 
it and profit thereby. 

3 



7b LIFE AND AUVr.NTUUKS OF 

And by this time the uiifToJly thought they had comple- 
ted their object ; they had the school-house door broken 
into many oieces, nnd beat me on the head with snow balls, 
and had a rail in the house, but not one man put hands on 
me. 1 thanked God and took courage, exhorting all per- 
sons to fear no evil ; that God would uphold us and protect 
us from all danger. Alas, how scandalizing to themselves. 
Wc had other remarks by my friend Green, &;c. 



I seen a man, 
From the bar-room, 

And if I can, 
I'll show his doom. 



By your power, 
With your votes, 

Those who cower 
And turn your coats. 



His head I know 
Is out of trim ; 

His acts all show 
What ruined him. 

It was old gin 
Drove out his mind ; 

It is a sin 
To aid this kind. 



Can we not end 
This horrid wrong, 

And as a friend, 
Wield power strong. 

Oneonta 
Is the town ; 

JSee the bounty 
Runnin'' down. 



I sec that slavery is a curse ; — it is not simply a curse to 
man because he is black or white, but it curses both. Dear 
fellow traveler I am sure it is calculated to curse all the hu- 
man ra(*e. Now view it, while it tends to destroy honor 
and honesty of one, it succeeds in blotting out every prin- 
ciple of virtue and reason in the other class. I ask what 
can brini; any evidence to show us that slavery is not a 
curse'? This fact is too sublime, founded on justice, and 
upheld by reason, therefore man cannot deny the truth of 
rny statements. I do abhor the diabolical institution, yea, 
let every body abhor it, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters. 
Behold this God provoking outrage. All Christians, and 
lovers of republican principles, should abhor it vvith a deep 
and bitter abhorrence, and be found opposing that accursed 
and soul destroying institution. Many are standing con- 
pected with persons who arc usiuL^ all their power in up- 



ANDREW JACK.^ON. 79 

holiiinp- this sinful nutraoro, that is hiddinp- men to ronlinue 
in sin. 



MY REASONS WHY SLAVERY SHALL DIE. 

I understand it to be in direct opposition to every thing 
good. Therefore it conflicts with the law of good men, 
and if so, it must be put down ; yea it shall be overthrown. 
I speak with confidence, knowing as we all do that we must 
stand firm, saint-like, yea patriot-like, Christian-like, demo- 
cratic-like, yes, true republican-like, yea, more sublime, 
God-like, and then let us look at the result; we see free- 
dom with all its beauty, yea, with glorious, superior rules of 
right, &:c. 

And in the way of conclusion I allude to some facts up- 
on which you may rely, and I hope every person will read 
and understand what God demands. And what are the dic- 
tates of common sense and sound reason, in every depart- 
ment in life. We have the ability to understand the rela- 
tion we hold to each other, and therefore I think it folly for 
me to consume time in showing you the nature of this vile 
institution. My dear dying friends and fellow travelers to 
eternity, 1 see what this treacherous institution is doing in 
the land. Do you wish me to show you sir 1 Yes sir, I 
am wishing to see what is making so much noise. 1 am 
searching after the glorious and the sublime principles of 
republican security, for I am honestly convinced that we aa 
a nation are ruined and undone forever, unless we take hold 
with all faith and redeem our civil and religious liberty.— 
You know we have been driven out of our school house, 
and our churches have been locked against men who ask 
the privilege to inform us. And 1 am determined to see 
and hear for myself, and act with regard to the sanctifica- 
tion, and the justification of my own soul. All I ask is to 
see and if you can show me, I will be glad. I can show 
you quickly, all you wish to see, if you will take off them 
old pro-slavery specks which you have used until you can- 
not see through ihern to discern a man from a mouse — this 
is a true statement, for ifi relation to the killing of a mouse 
there is not '^'^'<' ^ -^ ever takes notice of it. Neither is 

Q 4 



so i.llK AMU auvf.ni ri<K.S Kj- 

there aiijr person to take notice of slave-killing. But the 
question i.s, can any person of good judgment, be foolish 
enough to act so bad 1 What benefit i-^ it to kill ofi' their 
slaves '. r-^ir, I will answer this, if you will tell mc what is 
plained by husband:^ and wives fighting. There is not any 
gain, but a great loss. They have lost their standing in so- 
cietv. and also their influence as parents, and worst of all 
the love of God is gone. And it is their delight, to torment 
and harrass the feelings of each other for revenge. lou 
have settled this matter. There can not be any answer 
more appropriate, the fact is sufiicient evidence of itself. — 
And should I do you justice, I would add, all that disregard 
the rights of the created, cannot have any regard for the 
Creator. And we all are bound to look into these things. 
Now the question is what will be the result if we act. I 
can see there is a great wrong. Yes look, and remember 
God will look, yes, he will execute justice against thee, 
whenever your cup is full. All yon have to do is well near 
done, lou may consent to the will of wicked ungodly ru- 
lers, but against such I do earnestly protest, and will, for 
they are not competent. If any man cannot live save by 
fraud and robbery, misery and franticness, ruin is truly 
standing at the door of every honse, yea ruin is making in- 
roads into all the enterprize of our great and noble estab- 
lishments in this nation. I see its dismal, dark and dan- 
gerous effect, therefore I speak decidedly, yes I speak of a 
reality, r\nd not of an imagination. 1 am an American 
born citizen — I live in America, and therefore it is my home. 
I regard it as such, and stand ever prepared to lend my in- 
(luencc in behalf of my beloved country, as a patriot, I 
have as strong zeal as any man, my patriotism is not so 
strong as to crave all this world, and deprive every other 
nianof the right to any soil, and then sei;?c his person in ev- 
ery respect like unto myself. No my spirit of philanthropy 
has ever taught me to regard the right of every person, and 
another thing is very essential I find, and not only so, but 
absolutely necessary to our happiness — for in proportion to 
the misery we have, just in the same proportion we must 
all suffer the scandal together, and be reproached as indi- 
viduals. What a glorious republic we have here in the U. 
3. A. 'Wonderful security against all outrages upon the. 
>}eopl»'s rights. Ilaik, O hark ! hoar the chains rattlin, ?;--'- 



ANDREW JACKSON. 81 

What gentleman's horse is loose, look out. What is the 
mat'er, do you see anything 1 I see a large company of 
slaves just drove into jail over across the street — what a sight 
—is this all a dream 1 No, it is a fact 1 I ask how in the 
light of reat^ou you can tell me we are elevating men in 
this nation to high and ollicial stations, who are so con- 
temptible as these persons that virtually consent to every 
thing like rascality injustice and bloodshed. Suppose wc 
know of a lion and tiger, both in this neighborhood, and the 
fact is ascertained that all the sheep are in danger of being 
devoured, pigs not excepted. I see where they go in and 
tell everybody. I know the very spot where they get in. — 
John, w^ell why do you stand still then and let all them pigs 
and sheep be killed 1 Because I am not able to prevent 
them from coming in, all the fence is down all along the 
South side of the field, and I thought it best to pull down 
this part up north, and then these devouring animals will 
starve to death, and then you feed them so that they will die 
quick. Votes are what feed old tyrants. Again we may 
take another case to elucidate this great matter. Here we 
have men amons' us who denominate themselves Liberty 
men, — and indeed these very men, will not vote for a man 
unless he is a Liberty party man — this is good — but do we 
find men true? Fes when it is convenient, but some of 
this kind of men will cling to the old pro-slavery church, 
and pay out their money to the devil's undcr-strapper. The 
best thing we can do is to remember him that speaks and 
the work is done. 



S2 LIFE ANI> AnVEXTUIlRR 



Journal of the Travels and bketches of 

A. JACKSON, Tiiii Kentucky Slave: 
111 1816-7, and 14 months Labor. 



T have concluded it proper as well as just to g-ivc to tlie 
world an account of myself. 

April 1, 1846. I lectured in Ward Smith's school house. 
Notwithstanding" the Peace Officer was called upon to keep 
order, we had a very good time. The drunken, rebellious 
wretch kept silent. 

On the 2d I lectured near Mr. Whoii's. Good order was 
observed. It was moved and seconded and a vote of the 
meeting was taken, that we return the speaker a vote of 
thanks for his eloquent address. It was carried unani- 
mously. 

On the 3d I lectured at Hull's Corners, and made it my 
business to show them our national responsibility, and af- 
ter I had spoken upon this topic I was about to close my 
remarks I was requested to continue. I did so. We had 
a very little annoyance by some few ruffians. One of the 
friends tried to silence them, but in vain was the efibrt. 
I remarked that such things did not interrupt me. I have 
a class of persons in my meetings that I term niggards. — 
They will not hear themselves, and them that wish to hear 
they hinder, and nig them out of tlieir right. 

All was silent j I appealed to facts as evidence to expose 
the wickedness of our United States from the time of our 
old revolutionary war to the present time. The curse of 
slavery has been at war v^ith all our institutions, whether 
moral, political or ecclesiastical arrangements Under 
those (considerations, I looked at the spirit of remonstrance 
exhibited by the brave men of our nation against taxation, 
and now what are the people doing, I say fellow citizens ; 
they are taxed worse. In my remarks upon temperance I 
dwelt upon the liible against Rum and other strong drink. 

On the 5th I preached a discourse from the text, " Make 
a chain :" Ezek. vii, 23 — at the Wandle school-house, not 
without success. I attcmlcd meeting willi brother Bars 
low iu the forenoon. In the eveninp- wo had a frood old 



ANDREW JACKSON. 83 

fashioned shout near Mr. Shorfield's, in llaniiibal. My ob- 
ject was to conviiicG the people of our suiTering-s. i was 
successful in gaining some, doubtless. 

On the 6th I lectured in McCnusey's school-house. I 
had a civil time and large coniri'cgation. 

On the 7th, lectured in the^Canada school-house. We 
had a little annoyance, while I was treating upon the du- 
ty of men's teetotally abstaining from the sin of all strono- 
drink. I can see no distinction in pro-slaveryism and runi^ 
ism. This is the position I occupied and ever have main- 
tained vehemently. 

On the 8th, lectured on Broad Ridge to a dense cono-re- 
gation. I related facts on the occasion that received'^the 
approbation of all respectable persons. 

On the 9th, lectured at.the Bracket school-house. 

On the 10th, lectured at Ilannibalville. I have not any 
reason to think hard of any class of people at all. I got 
free access to the hard oppressive characters, and in the 
fear of God I admonished them. Home remarks were 
made by a friend, which gratified me. He spoke in behalf 
of down trodden humanity with much zeal. 
^ On the 11th and 12th, Ilectured and preached at Loom- 
is' Corners : we did well 

On the 13th, lectured in the Demass school-house. In 
the conclusion of my remarks I made an inquiry to know 
if I resembled a horse, an ox, or a sheep ; for if the law 
possessed power to make things of men, it could make 
any thing of them. I heard a low voice ; I understood it 
distinctly to say, 'you look like a sheep. In reply, I re- 
marked, we read of a separation which is to take place i 
When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the 
holy angels with Him : then shall He sit upon the throne 
of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all na- 
tions ; and He shall separate them one from another, as a 
shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats : Matt, xxv, 31, 
32, 33.— And He shall set the sheep on the right hand, but 
the goats on the left. Laughter, and some one said you 
may as well be still now. I continued to make such appli- 
cation as I thought proper. 

On the 14th, lectured in the Wilesey school-house. Hear 
the report : all still and well pleased with my plain princi- 
Ulea. I laid before my congregation the horrors of sin.— 



J54 LIFE AM) AnVENTLRES OF 

1st. The sinfulness of usinjr liquor as a beverage. 2d. Ex- 
ceeding? sinfulness of slaveholding. 2d. The weighty res- 
sponsibility which is resting upon us. 

After a few 'striking and heart-searching remarks on 
those heads, 1 saidi must close ; but they requested me to 
rro on : I did so, exposing all manner of intrigue and prof- 
rio-acy, ^vith all their chicanery. Such is the true charac- 
{qt of slavery. Then can any honest person support it? 
No. Why then, I say, why not all the world oppose it? 
Yes, all the inhabitants of God's footstool should dethrone 
it. By your acts, with your votes, unless you attend to this 
great and all important matter soon, we are ruined eternal- 
ly. What is all your talking and praving going to accom- 
plish while you are found voting iu defence of the institution 
of slavery ? 

Mr. Williams was called for. He arose and made some 
very appropriate remarks. He said enough had been offer- 
ed on the subject, but he would give it his sanction. Then 
ho spoke of my mode of supporting myself by selling books, 
and thus ditrusing light among men. By the request of the 
congregation we had a few very candid remarks by the 
Rev? Mr. Armstrong, deliberately pressing upon the con- 
gregation the awful responsibility that must follow them, if 
God holds us accountable, as it has been so beautifully 
shown by our friend. This brother remarked to the peo- 
ple very kindly that he intended to examine the matter, and 
see if this outrage cannot be put away t>om among us. He 
closed with prayer, asking the blessing of God to crown the 
labors of servants with success, until all shall be free, and 
happy in the enjoyment of their God-given rights. 

On the loth, lectured at Wheeler's Corners. I think eve- 
ry person w'as well pleased. 

On the IGth, I lectured at the Hindman's school house. 
We had a little annoyance. I regret such heathenism in a 
christian land, or under our form of government, which 
piofesses so much republicanism, and yet attempts to gag 
down a slave. 

On the 17th, 1 had a respectable congregation and good at- 
tention, iu the Talman District, Oswego town. I can look 
nj)on such districts as this with joy, and not with regret, and 
prav that God may bless them, and save them by the applica- 
tion of Jesus' blood. 



ANDREW JACKSON- 85 

On the 18th, lectured at Richards' Corners, and all the res- 
pectable part of the inhabitants behaved themselves with de- 
corum ; but there was a class of transgressors that acted con- 
temptible in the sight of God and all respectable persons. I 
called upon them in the name of all that was good and lovely, 
to repent, confess and forsake their old sins, and turn to God 
and live. 1 then continued my remarks : The leader called 
upon me to stick to the text. I replied to him by a quotation 
of the text — Eccl. iv, 1 : Job returned and considered all the 
oppressions that art done under the sun ; and drunkenness is 
one essential branch of oppression that is tolerated under the 
sun. I think this is sticking to my text ; all is very compre- 
hensive. View the preacher ; he viewed all sin. God sent 
me likewise to preach His gospel against all sin. I cannot 
throw off responsibility. Hear His command ; how forcible ; 
it is, be kind, and behold the tears of such as are oppressed. — 
I must be plain in my remarks upon this point ; and I then re- 
ferred to the 20,000 of God's poor that were sold from Vir- 
ginia, by wicked persons, and what a flood of tears was then 
beheld by the preacher, through faith, and they had no com- 
forter ; but they must be beat with clubs and gashed with whips 
and cow-hides to keep them quiet while heart from heart is 
rending. This is done to prevent them from being heard to 
shriek, while heart from heart is rending — nor to be joined 
again. Solemnity then prevailed ; the ruffians left the house 
with a stamping as they went. I closed my remarks by re- 
futing all objections, and then called upon any person to speak 
that wished to make any remarks. A neighbor rose to do so, 
and remarked that he was about as much of a stranger as the 
brother to whom we had been listening, and he also remarked 
that he had been hearing the truth, for he had been to the South, 
and saw a hundred human beings drove into the market, and 
then taken out and sold, one by one, whilst they were several- 
ly exhorted to a virtuous life, one by a father, another by a 
child, another by a mother, another by a son, another by a lit- 
tle daughter, and some of them by an old victim of the cruel 
spoilers. 

On the 19th, preached in the morning in Hall's District, to 
a respectable congregation. I expressed the principles of the 
gospel against rum, slavery, and all other sins in our land.— 
In the afternoon and evening 1 addressed meetings at the 
School-house near David Stevens'— and respectable congrega- 



so Lilt AND AUVENTURKS OF 

lions alicutlctl ; ^ood order was observed by the inhabilautg. 
^Vc hud some vefy good remarks from a friend, directly to the 
point on individual duty in this matterr All was still. I took a 
vote for another meeting at this house, which was unanimous. 
The meeting was held, and the citizens attended ; all was 
quiet. I was made acquainted with Mr. Place, a warm friend 
to his raco, and also to God and to the poor bleeding slave?. 
He open the meeting with prayer. I then repeated the awful 
vision during a perfect silence. I began my remarks by simple 
comparison, thinking this would be the best way to convince 
my hearers that the text was appropriate to the occasion. I 
then proceeded, " and the city is full of violence." To es- 
tablish the fact, I referred to Washington City on the simple 
comparative supposition that we might have a good spring and 
fTood watering trough, and we would commence to clean the 
trough out, but the head of the spring is full of clay and poke, 
and all other kinds of trash. I represented Washington as 
the fountain of violence, from which spring gushes forth cru- 
elty and crime, misery and bloodshed. Until it is purified 
and made good by taking out the clay and filth that is repug- 
nant to all who have not shut their eyes, stopped their ears, 
hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the 
principles of purity and justice, little progress can be made 
in rendering the streams sweet and healthful. He that is 
guilty of establishing so foul a system as that of American 
slavery, has sunk himself to the lowest depths of degradation 
in the sight of God and in the estimation of all men who 
make the laws of God their guid3 ; and all who support such 
men and measures, are partakers of their guilt. The city is 
full of violence, for it takes away my liberty, makes me a 
slave, and compels millions of God's poor to live in a state 
of concubinage — all chastity lost — virtue with all its beauty 
lo«t to such helpless females. I declared this the worst of vi- 
olence, and cited other facts to prove my text, and closed 
with these words : Make a chain^ for the land is full of bloody 
crimes, and the cilij is Jull oj violence. I then gave way for 
any one to make remarks. The Rev. Mr. Place then rose 
and remarked that he would not detain the meeting but two 
minutes ; that the subject to him had been deeply interesting, 
and no doubt had been to every one. He said it was not to 
be wondered at that a victim of such a cruel Jwrong should 
become excited, knowing the wretched condition of the op- 



ANDREW JACKSO:V, 5 y( 

pressed millions. He l>roi.glit a great many truths to bear 
imghtily on the political duty ol' christians in regard to this 
subject, and closed with prayer. 

I lectured in the Wiltse District on the 2lst day of April 
I had a very respectable congregation and remarkable good 
order. I remarked first, th-.t for a person to hold slaves 
he or she must disregard God and the laws of God, that arc 
to be the Christian's guide through this world—and when a 
person has thus thrown off all responsibility, then and not 
till then, can a person be a slaveholder,— and as soon as a 
person has thrown off all personal regard for the sake of 
unjust gam, I ask, what is there then, that is too bad for 
that man to do 1 I am of the opinion that a person is in 
awful circumstances when in this situation, and eternally 
lost, andfit so, I thank God that we have a better -uide thaii 
to choose between all bad. Thou shalt not follow a mul- 
titude to do the work of the devil, or to do evil, to pass 
laws like those that have ruined millions of promising 
yourig persons, and is now trying to ruin as many more bv 
placiiig them under the bloody flag of this United States, 
and then set the hard laboring persons of the North to sup- 
port them in slaveholding that they may be able to stand 
upon the rights of the poor and helpless. 

April 22, I lectured in Sterling, Cayuga county, Lake 
District, to a large and well behaved cono-regation.* 

Text, Eccl. iv, 5 : "The fool foldeth his hands too-ether 
andeateth his own flesh." I first proceeded to est°ablish 
Uiis tact by supposing a slaveholder to be the fool and I be- 
lieve that I was successful in this oratory train of reason, 
without any chicanery, or in other words, sophistry, I clear- 
ing up the matter by one or two facts. 1st. Because it 
should De the object of every person as social beings to ele- 
vate man, to make him just what God would have him to be 
in all things that he does. I here charge you in the fear of 
God, if ibou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent 
perverting: ot judgment and justice, as in Ohio, and not there 
only, but m Kentucky, marvel not at the matter, for he that 
IS higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than 
hey— God alone is greater than all those that call upon un- 
learned persons to support a law that God has not command^ 
ed them to establish under the sun— there is a time wherem 
ono man rulclh over another to his own hurt, and if the fugi- 



S8 Lll'L AND ADVt.NTURES OF 

live can understand language to undertake to argue before 
God, and men that must render an account to God, I ask if 
there be any that need try to excuse themselves ? no, not 
any. 

April 23, 1 continued my remarks upon the great question 
of universal ri^rhts in this nation, being as they should be. — 
I first took the Bible to prove the fact, and then I made some 
illustrations to show them my views upon the great national 
outrage perpetrated by these indivnduals that are so anxious 
to see our country free. O yes, colonize the colored people, 
— and slaveholders say, "0, I want the poor things sent home 
to their own country, and one would give a dollar, and ano/h- 
cr would give five, and ten was given by an old lady, and 
and another one hundred, and another one thousand, and a 
certain man five thousand — and indeed I remember when I 
had the privilege of attending the lecture in Bowling Green 
upon the colonization scheme. I could repeat his lecture in 
substance — if you wish to see your children industrious and 
enterprising, then colonize your slaves and send them to Li- 
beria — the young slaveholders saying with oaths, that he ought 
to be killed — if I had him out I would fix hiui for talking so 
— and so it went on, but at length the time came when the 
free colored people were to start — the man did not come — the 
old slaveholders said the reason was because 3Ir. Light had 
runaway and carried ofl' all their money and not any other 
person. 

I then put the question to the congregation, for anv person 
to answer. I then remarked you liave more sense than to 
believe that law can make human beings proverty — then I 
remarked, if so we will contest the matter. 1 am the sample, 
look at me — do I look like a horse, or a sheep, or a hog ? if 
you think so speak — all was still. I remarked, you do not 
believe that the law can make a man, a thing ? I heard a low 
voice which I understood to say, you look like a horse, 1 re- 
marked, I am very glad to hear any person that thinks so 
speak, so that I can tell where they be, and such persons ought 
to be known — in my opinion they expose themselves in 
judgment, and I closed by a {ew remarks applicabki to the 
universal principle of profligacy that is under the name of de- 
mocracy — that noble name thus treated with contempt by 
those that profess to loi'e the honored name of democracy — 
they all talk loud of Liberty and af;t out slavery by the old 



ANDKF.W JACKSON.- 



wicked rule, stick lo your party let it vfci vvliat it may— never 
iuIqcI principle rilick to liarty, and so ith;as been wilh tiio vvhig.^;^ 
and I see that uiiiess we corns back to our old principles all is 
lost in slooJi^M and we as a people shall sink down into ever- 
lasting disijrace, and I pray that God may t'orbid by the pow- 
er of truth and right. I did not have a large congregation but 
quiet and good order was observed by nearly all in the cou- 
o-refration." I undertook to prove that a man was incapable ot" 
choosing between two eviis — my reason was because ne is a 
selfish being, he cannot do anything right according to the 
government of heaven' 1 have had no room to complain ot 
any that have got common intelligence, and those that wish to 
make disturbance were so far beneath the notice of the honor 
of a person, or the dignity of a respectable gentlem.'dn, th'it I 
Hid not pay any atteniioa to them., 

April 29, I lectured in the Loni.>' Diatr'ct. 1 had a respec- 
table congregation in that place, and at the request of the 
congregation- I tarried in that vicinity and lectured in the 
same house, the t'oUowing evening, April 3'). I took the 
ground of uncompromising principle, do right and leave the 
result with God, let the world say what it may. God has be- 
sought us by his v/ord to love, and ho requires us to do it ; for 
to obey is better than sacrifice — then let us obey God that we 
may be strong, yea very strong in the strength of Israel's God. 
It is he that hath povrer to quench the flame— he hath deliv- 
ered me in time of need, I will put my trust in him, for in 
my time of trouble the Lord brought me off more than con- 
querror by his grace. And I have been bound, and by un- 
godly, wicked men. 

May 1st, I lectured at the Thompson District. I had. 
good attention, and was requested to address them again.— 
I complied with the requesi — spent the Sabbath, May 2d in 
Louis' District ; 3d, rained in the evening — gave them a 
history of the private evil that is now upheld, &c ; 4th, I 
lectured in the District near Mann's ; 5th, in the Thomp- 
son District; Gth, at Williams' Corners ; 7th, in the Emory 
District ; St'h, in Fulton village to W. Hasmall's congre- 
gation ; 9th, I remained at Salmons ; 11th, lectured near 
Mr. Dans, where, by request, I remained the 12th and 
lectured to a dense congregation — was asked how we could 
have entertainment without rum4 i reply to all persons 



if-) «IFF. VNJ) aOVKNTIRES OF 

May I3tlj, I leciureil at Boing's Corners. i attempted to 
show tlie cllect of Rum, and a certain old man declared 
that he could prove the system to be ju^t by the Bible. 1 
asserted that the system ot' Slavery in the United States, as 
it is now practiced, leads to Rum drinking-, and Rum drink- 
ing will lead to fornication, and licentiousness, and profli- 
gacy in all places gnder the sun. wherever it may be prac- 
ticed, among any color, whether white or blacK'. I might 
well remark that the man who can take sides with the op- 
pressors, arc just as bad as the advocates of any organic 
sin — the old man said he would not enter into a discussion 
with a nigger. I remarked, since the gentleman has been 
so faithful to discuss as he has already done this evening, 
I conclude he considers me a man, and so 1 wish him to 
answer me. He refused to do it and held his peace. I re- 
marked to the contrresation that Rum drinkinjx had has- 
toned its wicked influence upon persons of good standing, 
and unless we take a consistent course to get rid of these 
things, and show to the world that noble spirit of manliness, 
a noble principle, that cannot be bribed by any contemptible 
old party prejudice, our profession is vain, and we as a peo- 
ple must tall by our disobedience, unless we return to God ; 
and take hold of the old monster aud give him a death 
blow with truth, shoot h\n} dovyn — aim between his eyes. — 
We will cull the Whig party one eye, and the Demo- 
cratic party the other, and the national reiormers the cen- 
ter of the head, and the votes the shot, and then we will 
establish "ourselves by our principles of duty. God will 
protect all his people by his grace, cMid direct them- 

May 14, 1 lectured at the school iiouse near Mr. Kellogg's 
and good attention was paid ; 1.5th, lectured at little Utica. 
Here 1 undertook to prove the outrage of Rum upon a per- 
son's uatural rights. First to carry out a political schenrie 
—the Rum seller is a political man, a party man, and a 
Whig or a Democrat, for Liberty men are pien that are 
guided by a pure principle. They will not deal out deatli 
'at the bar, though it niay be the ruin of his own father, or 
a brother, or a neighbor, or any person that can bring 
three cents to degrade hlmselt^ And to prove the fact I re- 
marked of a truth it is truly necessary for them to n»ake 
nien drimk and then lead them up to the ballot box and hoi 
them up to vote with as great zeal as though the man had 



am>rl:\v Jackson. -91 

sense enough to do his country justice. This I'act has not 
yet been denied and it cannot be denied — it is a fact that 
we all can see at State and Town Elections — alas, alas! 
Rum did it, we will confess, and may God forgive such a 
nation as this. The 16'h and I7th, Saturday and Sunday, 
I held meetings in the District called Dingle Hole and 1 
had a rejoicing time in that pljce. A man named Web- 
ster had a meeting appointed in that place but he did not 
attend, and 1 was requested by the consent of the friends to 
improve the time. I did so by giving them a sermon upon 
Christian integrity. 19th, I lectured at Wright's District. 
All was quiet, and the people appeared to be well convinced 
of duty to God, and I found some of the inhabitants were 
well pleased with the truth I held forth on that evening ; — 
20lh, I lectured at stony Arabia. A dense congregation at- 
tended. I remarked that a cannon had been fired at the 
bloody monster Run). 

May 21.st, I attended a temperance meeting at Bridge- 
port, Madison county. After some remarks made by Mr. 
D. and C. I was asked by a friend if I was not in the habit 
of speaking upon the subject of Temperance. I replied I 
am. I was then requested to take the stand. I did so, and 
made such remarks as I considered appropriate. A song 
was called for by a friend, and I gave them the Liberty 
Rail Road. A vote of the meeting was taken for me to re- 
main the next evening". It was unanimously carried, only 
one person voting in tiie negative — I accordingly lectured 
tlje following evening. Maj' 23d, I lectured at the red 
school house. I spoke there ao-ain on the 24'th, and at five 
o'clock in the Smith District,-and also in the evening ; 25th, 
lectured near Mr. Tuitle's; 26th, near Chapman's — iu the 
above meetings good order was observed. 

The 27th I lectured at the meeting house on the Lake 
shore. A disgusting Rum seller remarked that he had sold 
more liquor since license had been withheld than before. — 
I remarked it is just what I have been telling you, we have 
the proof of the text, this is the reason we must hold on to 
what we call principle. 

28th, lectured at the School-house at State Bridge, to a res- 
pectable congregation. 29th, lectured at Lenox Basin. 

30th, came to Syracuse, and preached there on the 31st to a 
dense congregation. 

h2 



92 I.Il'E AM> AOVENTl RES 01- 

Juiic it'n, IcctLiicd to a still cuiigregation at the brick School 
hou.se in District No. 10. Put up with IMr. Monroe. Lec- 
tured on the 6th at a plcae call Hell's Hall' acre, and had a 
very respectable congregation, and some laughter. 1 must 
mark a few iiulividus who did not act becomingly, &c. 
7th, lectured at the stone Schol-house, near Mr. Bowers'. 
On the Sih June, commenced my labors in Tompkins Co., 
and in my lectures through this county was kindly admitted 
into the orthodox churches of dilTerent denominations until I 
liad arrived at M'Lean ; and tiiere I could not have admittance 
into any o'' the flun-ches to plead the cause of the dumb, the 
down trodden and the oppressed, I pray that God may blut 
out these black deeds at McLean. 

On the 8th 1 lectured at West Groton, to a small congre- 
gation ; all was still. By a vote of the meeting lectured 
again in the church in that town to a quiet and attentive con- 
gregiition. Put up with Jacob Smith. 

On the 10th, lectured in the church at Groton Hollow, to a 
respectiible congregation. Again on the 11th in the same 
place, to a large congregation. 

12th, at Peru, in the chapel. 13th, again. Morning of 
the 14th, a little distance from Mr. Underwood's, in the red 
School-house ; afternoon to an orderly congregation in the 
Grove : also in the evening in the sanie district, to a dense 
and quiet congregation. 

l-3tli, returned again to Peru, and lectured to a good con- 
gregation. 

15th, at Freeville, to a respectable congregation in the 
house, with some rough characters on the outside. Thought 
them nnworthy of notice. 

17th, at Dryden, to an orderly congregation. By unani- 
mous vote I consented to remain, and lectured at the same 
church to an audience who appeared to be universally satisfied 
with my explanation. 1 took the jrround that we stand res- 
ponsible to God and the people with whom we act. 

At McLean, on the afternoon of the 21st, preached under 
the broad canopy of heaven. 

22d, lectured noar Mr. Mosier's. Had good order. 
23d, in the Parker district. All the civilized part of the 
community was quiet ; but the uncivilized acted incfiably 
mean. This was in Cortland Co. 

24th, at McLean, lectured from John iv, in Scofield's door 



ANIJHKW TAt'KSON. 03 

yard. Tiie congregation was as quiet as could be expected, 
considering the wretched stand the professors took in behali' 
of the devil. 

25th, at Fort Watson. No disturbance ; but I made sonic 
illustrations which produced laughter from some. 

26th, at Little York, to a respectable congregation at ihc 
School-house. 

27th, I held a meeting in the North District near Mr. Co- 
meiuess'. Full and quiet congregation. 

28th, was in Lafayette. 

29lh, lectured near Mr. Nottingham's in quietness. Re- 
turned to Syracuse. 

3Uth, held a meeting at Clinton School-house, 6 miles north 
of Syracuse ; good congreo^ation out, and well behaved, 

July 1st it was so wet that I had no meeting. I returned to 
Syracuse on the 2d July, and found my friends going ahead 
with unshaken confidence. I left Syracuse after 5 o'clock, 
and lectured at La Fayette that night ; and as I had an op- 
portunity for conveyance, I proceeded to Tully one mile and 
a half south of the Corners. 

3d, lectured northwest of Homer village, in the district near 
Mr. Crampton's. Went to 

Virgil, and had the pleasure of hearing the rights of all the 
children of God nobly vindicated. I could not hold my 
peace-— and as my soul was full of the spirit of God, I took 
the opportunity to press more vehemently our national res- 
ponsibity as citizens. I left that place after 5 o'clock, and 
that night went to Peru, 12 miles from Homer village. Held 
meetinii in the Grove on 'the 5th not far from Guthrie's. It 
was supposed we had between 500 and 600 persons present 
before noon. In the afternoon it rained. I made a few re- 
marks, and announced to the congregation that I would speak 
at Peru at 5 o'clock. Had but a few persons out. 

6th, held a meeting in District No. 17 ; had a School- 
house full, and all was quiet. 

7th, addressed a well behaved coneregation at Northville. 

8th, in the evening, lectured in Aurora, near John Hus- 
sey's, to a very respectable congregation. 

9th, at Spring Port, to a very good audience. 

10th, in the evening, lectured at Seneca Falls. Lectured 
in the same place on the 1 1th. 

12th, attended a meetine; in (xeneva. 



m LUK AM) ADVKNTL'KEi; OV 

13tli, liaviiig received previous invitation i'lom Rev. Silas 
Hawley, attendeil an appointment at Peun Yan, in tlie brick 
School-house near Mr. Bigelow's, to an attentive congrega- 
tion. Continued to lecture to good congregations in, or in the 
neighborhood of that village on the 14th, 16th, 16th and 17th. 

ISth, lectured at Kinney's Corners, to a good congregation. 
Heard one v.hisper very distinctly "that is a damn'd lie.'' I 
replied, it is not a damned lie, sir ; I have not undertook to es- 
tnhlisli the great temperance reform by lying, I have the word 
of God to bear witness agrainst the use of strong drink. I 
then referred to the prophesy : Isaiah v, 11, 21, 22 — Wo un- 
to them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow 
strong drink ; that continue until night, till wine inflame 
them ! Wo unto them that are wise hi their own eyes, and 
prudent in their own sight ! Wo unto them that arc mighty to 
drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink ! I 
see these men referred to in other places — Proverbs xxvi, 12 : 
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope 
of a fool than of him. This is the gospel plan to put down 
all manner of sin, whether it be the sin of intemperance or 
the sin of slave-holding. The Bible principle is the great 
principle to use up the wicked, and strengthen the right- 
eous: Sound doctrine is our motto. God give us moral 
courage as we go along, to wield the sceptre of truth with 
vigor, till all the powers of darkness here shall cease. 

19th, lectured at Penn Yan, to a quiet congregation. Put 
up with Mr. Bradley. 

20th, lectured at Branch Port to greai acceptance, to a 
good congregation, which the minister took an active part 
in securing for me. He (Mr. McGlashen) pressed the want 
of labor and the propriety of buying liberally the Narrative, 
which he had found to be quite entertaining; and I sold ve- 
ry well on that hill, tor which my thanks are due the citi- 
zens, 

21st, lectured at the Benedict School-house to a small 
congregation, without disturbance. 

22d, held a meeting in Todd's neighborhood, with good 
congregalion. 

23d, lectured at Italy Hill, to a small audience. 

24-th, lectured at Prattsburgh, in the Presbyterian church, 
to a thin congregation, (it being a wet evening.) Very lit- 



AiNDREn jACliJsON, 9/5 

lie annoyance. A song was called for, and I gave ihem the 
Liberty IIail-Road. I put up with Mr. Jackson. 

25th, had a full and quiet audience in the Methodist ch'h, 
which was generously and cheerfully tendered us. Preach- 
ed there again on the 25th, to a dense congregation. I di- 
rected my remarks, which were well received, against the 
institution of blood. I then called upon any person who 
chose to do so, to improve the time. One rose and remark- 
ed that we had been listening to the truth, and to the great 
principle by which men must be governed. After my meet- 
ing closed, I attended at the Presbyterian church. The 
clergyman discharged his duty as I think a faithful watch- 
man should. 

27th, went to Bath ; was directed to Charles Van Hue- 
sen's, and lectured there on the 27th and 28ih j and at Avo- 
ca on the 29th to a thin congregation. 

3rth, preached to a dense and orderly congregation in 
Clisbe district. 

31st, attended the Steuben County Convention at Bath. 
We were not willing to see the Conventiou compromise the 
principles on which we stand. I then went on to give my 
reasons simply and plainly, amidst laughter and cheering. 
I was led to refer to the resolution concerning the laboring 
class of our citizens. 

August 1st, I attended the great celebration at Bath ; re- 
mained there the 2d, apd attended meeting in the Grove. — 
S. R. Ward gave three good sermons. I urged the neces- 
sity of our yielding to this truth, because the author of it is 
Go'd. 

3d, lectured at Urbana to a very good congregation. On 
the 4th in the Ernest district to a small congregation, who 
were very attentive and orderly. 

5th, lectured in West Tyrone, to a very respectable con- 
gregation. 

6th, lectured at East Tyrone, to a dense congregation. A 
man made a remark relative to Mr. Birney's locotbcoism. 
I was ready to meet my friend on this question, although 
his skin was different from mine. I referred to the libels 
that were published by some of the whig editors. This 
made him whist. 

7th, went to Wayne Hotel, but my appointment there had 
not been published, and stopped over night with Mr. Sweet. 



0»i IJFE AM) A^V^.NT^UF.5^ Ot 

1 lectured at Kendall Hollow oii the 8lh ; at East Hill or. 
Othjand at 5 o'clock preached agraiii at Kendall Hollow ; 
lOtbJectured at Irelp^ndvills ; I ft h and r2th, iu William 
Lee*s District ; 13th in Jefferson ; lith in Meclilenburgh 5 
15lh, went to \Vest Groton, lectured there the 16th, had a 
very attentive conrrreo-ntion, some remarks made by the 
Rev'. Mr. Sterns. Mr. S. thought the public bound to sup- 
port any man who will vindicate the claim of God, and il' 
ihev were not robbert^ he believed it would bo right to give 
20 shillings. They laid on the table 48 cents. Went to 
Syracuse the 17 and back the ISth. 

The 19th, lectured twice in Northville — had but a small 

congregation Rev. J. JiOgan anfl Rev. Joseph Sterns 

were present and addressed us ; 20ih, came to Trumans- 
burgh ; 21st, lectured in the District near Mr. Davis' ; 22d, 
lectured at Ranneysville ; 23(1, lield a meeting in the red 
church, and also in the evening ; 21th, lectured in the Bar- 
ber District ; 25th, in the Spalding school house; 26th, in 
the yellow meeting house 5 27ih, I lectured in PcrryvilJc 
to a dense congregation — had sonic annoyance ; 2Sth, in 
the Mclntyre school house; 29th, in- f'ayugaville — had a 
large congregation ; 3)th, 1 preached in the school house 
on the Lake shore, in the n:iorning, afternoon and evening, 
— a large number in attendance, some remarks made by 
others, took a vote of the meetino- co know how manv 
thought what I preached to them chicanery, and not one 
vote was given against the position which 1 sustained. I 
then took a vote in the affirmative and it carried unani- 
mously. I then exhorted the brethren to develop it in ev- 
ery department of life. The 31st, I lectured in the Van 
Loon school house to a large audience — sorvje disturbance. 

September Ist, I lectured at the Swan school house. I 
was informed that a certain man remarked that he wished 
some smart man was there, for he believed 1 could be used 
up, and I learned that all the official men of the district were 
present on the occasion, and not one of them could prove 
that the rulers had not perjured thennselves wheh they have 
sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, 
which declares, 

Article iv. Sec. 4. The United States shall guaranty to 
every State in this Union, a republican form of government 
and shall protect each of them aeain>t invasion. 



ANDREW JACK.SON. 9? 

It" I understand liie English language our rulers are perjur- 
ed villains. 

2d, lectured again at the Van Loon School-house, to a very 
good congregation. 

3d, lectured in the North Settlement to a middling full 
house ; and afterwards learned the value of pro-slavery piety. 
1 traveled some miles from the meeting, through the rain, and 
then lodged in an open school-house, wet as I was. O Lord, 
have mercy upon those mine enemies, that reject all the good 
things, and turn Thy messenger away. 

4th, mostly spent in making arrangements for future lec- 
tures. 

5th, lectured again at the Yan Loon School-house, to a res- 
pectable congregation. 

.6th, preached at the Snyder Schoolhouse, at 9 o'clock, P; 
M. to a dense ^^congregation. At half past lit preached at 
Cayuta Lake ; at 3, P. M. at the Snyder Settlement ; and a 
second time at Cayutaville at 6 o'clock. Again in the Snyder 
School-house in the evening. My nieetings have all been 
full to-day, and to-night I am very much fatigued, having foot- 
ed it 11 miles and preached 5 sermons. Amen. 

7th, lectured at Sebrings' Corners to a dense congregation, 
with but little annoyance. 

8th, lectured at North Newfield to a full house, v/ith a little 
annoyance from a few persons of low character. 

9th, lectured at Enfield Centre, to a middling congregation." 
lOlli, lectured at Appl-gate's Corners to do. do. 

r2th, lectured at the Cutter Scool-house, to a «mall congre- 
gation, who w^ere .very orderly. 

13th, preached to a full house, and good attention was given 
by a dense assembly. Lectured in the afternoon at the 
School-house near Mr. Bell's ; had a full house, and the meet- 
ing voted a unanimous request that I would address th'eiti again 
in the evening, with which 1 complied. 

14th, lectured at the school-house near Mr. Allen's, to a 
dense and civil congregation. 

15th, lectured near Mr, Knowles', to a dense congregation, 
without annoyance. 

16th, lectured in V^annettenville to a denize congregation. 
occasioning considerable laughter. 

ISth, lectured on Rumsey Hill, to i' r.ijl lioiis^ : ba'l >()rn<-> 
annoyance t>om ruffian?, 

\ 



^ LIFE AND AI/VL^':w■:■^.Eo Oi' 

13th, lectured near Mr. MitcheU's, to a full house •, some 
annoyance, but attention by the mass. 

20th, preached at Vaiinettenville, in the forenoon, to a good 
connregatlon. Be it remembered, I ^vas informed that my 
germon hit in the right spot, and many applauded it while oth- 
ei's vacated their seats. In the evening of the same day I lec- 
tured again on Rumsey Hill to a dense congregation, amid 
good behavior. 

21stj lectured again in ihe district near Mr. Mitchell'a ; had 
some annoyance. 

22d, lectured in the di.stnct near 7s\i. Austin'?, to a full 
house ; some laughter. 

23d, lectured on Newtown Creek, lo a small congregation, 
without annoyance. 

2'ith, lectured at Horsehead^ to a small congregation, with 
solemnity and laughter. 

♦25th, attended meeting in Elmira ; had a good time of it.- 
26th, had another meeting. 27th, I preached two sermons ; 
had good attention. Remained in Elmira lecturing on the 
28th and 29th, while the friends were doing my printing. 

30th, attended a lecture near Buck's. 

October 1st, lectured at Buckville. All the civilized part of 
the congregation behaved like human beinp-s ; the-rabble an- 
noyed us. 

2d, lectured in Factory ville, to a smallj quiet congregation, 

3d, lectured in Mill Town, Penn-, to a civil congregation. 

Ith, preached in Mill Tov/n at half past 10 A. M., and at 
Factory ville at half past 3 P. M. to a good congregation, and 
in the evening at Mill Town. 

oih and 6th, preached in Athens to pretty full congregations^ 
with some annoyance from a few poor heathen, who threw 
htones against the house. The result was that nearly all the 
Methodists voted to have me continue the meetings when ail 
except a few of the disturbers deserted. 

8th and 9th, lectured near Dr. Hill's to full houses ; slight 
annoyance on the first day, but none on the second. Remark- 
able good attention throughout. 

ICth, arrived at my old station at Towanda. Remained till 
the 15th, laboring in word with some success, holding forth 
the strongest inducements I could to my colored friends to 
strive for an education, &c. 

IGth, lectured at Terry Town to a dense and quiet house< 



ANDREW JACKSON. 99 

IVth, lectured at lughamville, to a good and quiet audience. 
Also in the forenoon and afternoon of the ISth. 

IQth, lectured at Frenchtown to a dense and orderly house. 

20th, lectured at Braintrim to a full and unannoyed house. 

21st, lectured at Skinner Eddy's to a dense and attentive 
congregation. 

22d, lectured at Mahoopany, Wyoming County, Penn., to 
a full house. 

23d, lectured at Forkstown, to a dense congregation ; had 
a good time, and no annoyance. 

24111, lectured again in Braintrim, to a full, attentive house. 

25th, preached at Little Mahoopany to a dense congrega- 
tion. Took a vote relative to an evening meeting; carried 
unanimously in favor, and I preached in the evening without 
annoyance to a good congregation. 

26th, lectured at Little Mahoopany to an attentive and 
dense congregation. 

27th, lectured near Judge Lemon's to a small congregationj- 
many being prevented by the rain from attending. 

2Sth, lectured near Mr. Crawford's, to an attentive and dense 
congregation, 

29th, lectured on Spring Hill, to adens^congregation ; no 
annoyance, but expressions of good feeling even to laughter, 

3Uth, lectured in Marry All to a full house. 

31st, lectured in Camp Town to a good and atttentive house. 

November 1st and 2d, lectured in the district near Mr, 
Camp's ; it rained, and the congregation was small. Had no 
annoyance; but after dismission some person remarked that 
if it had not been Sunday he would have discussed the matter, 
and shown what a desecration of the Sabbath it was, as well 
as pollution of the house of God ; and rather than countenance 
such proceedings ho would see the slaves in fetters eternally, 
A very intelligent, smart young lady replied that the house had 
not been desecrated till the gentleman spoke, but he had des» 
ecrated the Sabbath and the house of God, and half the con- 
gregation appeared to approve her rebuke. I came to the con- 
clusion that my friend was a very pious man, but did not view 
the matter as I did ; but to my disappointment I afterwards 
ioarned that the name of this man, who had made' so loud an 
outcry, was Breck, who is confessedly liable to err. I after- 
>vards heard him use uncalled for words, but it was on Tues- 
day, on n»y return from Syracuse. 

I 2 



100 LIFE AND ADVENTUnES OF 

3cl, lectured in Duran School-house to a small congregation} 
many being prevented by the rain from attending. 

4th, lectured near Mr. Hines' to a thin, but quiet audience. 
5th, lectured at the SchooUhouse near Mr. Banes', in East- 
Herrick, to a good congregation. 

6th, went to Oswego ; 7th, to Richford ; 8th, to Syracuse, 
where I remained until the 12th. 

13th, lectured in Richford to a good congregation ; again 
on the 14th, to a good and attentive house. 15th, preached, 
and lectured in the evening at the stone School-house, to a full 
congregation. 

16th, lectured in the brick Meeting-house, in Berkshire, to 
a good congregation. 

17th, lectured in Flemingville to a full house. 
ISth, preached in Oswego, and lectured there on the 19th 
and 2Uth, to respectable congregations* 

21st, left for Le Roysville, Penn., and on the 22d preached 
there in the School-house near Mr. Goodell's, to a full con- 
gregation. Put up with Mr. De Wolf. 23d, had a full house. 
24th, lectured at the b«hool-house near Mr. Goodell's. 
26th, had a small congregation at East Erie. 
29thj had a considerable congregation in the Whitmore dist. 
28th, lectured again in Herrick. 

29th, preached in the Whitmore district at 11 o'clock, and 
at Herrick in the evening. 

30th, lectured near Mr. Wells' to a dense congregation. 
December 1st, attended a debate ; there found my friend 
Mr. Brink ; by his request remained with him a day and night, 
and was treated with much hospitality and kindness, and I hope 
that he will soon be brought, with a host of other noble mind- 
ed men, into Christ's ranks, to do sure work for God against 
Rum and Slavery. 

2d, lectured to a good congregation, and then requested any 
one who would, to speak. After much reluctance Mr. Camp 
made some remarks ; but Jackson was called for ; — sometime 
expired. Mr. Camp had well remarked, they are trying to put 
the chains on us. I exclaimed, they have got them on. Jack- 
son, — Mr. Jackson, — and some annoyance. Mr. Camp theur 
gave place, and I rose again and remarked, I shall prove ray 
assertion by one simple comparison — the tv^^o great parties. 
I referred to two dogs I once knew — the hound and the bull 
dog that chased the rabbit, and when tb^y had killed itajid be- 



ANDREW JACKSON. • 101 

gan 10 tight about the meat, the little black list eat it up ; and 
while our men in the North are divided and are lightincr each 
other, the Southern slaveholders are the fist, — they eat up all 
the meat. — Laughter. All the congregation cried out, truth 
truth. ' 

3d, lectured quietly in the School-house near Mr. Brush's. 

4th, lectured in the Methodist Church in Plattvillcj to a good 
congregation, 

5th, lectured in Friendville ; remained there, and had a full 
house on the 7th, 

8th and 9th, lectured at Forest Lake to a dense congrega- 
tion, without annoyance. 

10th a;id 11th, was in Montrose ; found Mr. Burley at this 
place, and heard him lecture. I remained and lectured in the 
Village ; learned that the church was not free for us. 

12th, lectured in Jesup, in the Methodist chape], to a very 
good congregation. Put up with Mr. Huff. 

13th, preached in Zion Church, Montrose, to a full house. 

15th, lectured in the School-house near Whoit's — full h. 

16th, had a good congregation in Baptist church, Liberty, 

17th, lectured to a good congregation in Franklin. 

18th, lectured in a School-house near Mr. Waters', in 
Liberty, Penn. 

19th and 2Uthj lectured in the Conklin Presbyterian ch'h 
to a civil congregation. In this place I found the old pre- 
judice run high, one family setting a side table for me; but 
they repented befere-l left. 

21st, lectured in the School-house near Mr. Buckalo's, to 
a full house ; was interrupted soon after I commenced by 
a fat faced man. I remarked I \vish for that man's name — - 
I'm going to publish him. He said his name was R. T. 
Hays, and continued to interrupt the meeting. I admon- 
ished him with the word of holy writ. He denied the com- 
mon relation which God hath established among men. I 
remarked that I felt very thankful to .-,ay this man was not 
my brother in the Ilesh, neither a black man outwardly ; for 
it would be truly a shame to see any colored person carry 
on so among respectable Citizens. Laughter! I can al- 
ways tell when 1 throw a stone among dogs, whether I hap- 
pen to hit one — for he is certain to yell. Ijaughter! I con- 
tinued to thunder the powerful truths of the Bible against 
traitors ! showing the character of the man who disturbed 

1 3 



IQO T.iif: \N'D ADvr.NTi'iiEs or 

the peace, to be one brought to view in 2d Tim. iii. 13 — 
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, de- 
ceiving and being deceived. He left the house, remarking, 
I have staid here long enough. I replied as he went, resist 
the devil and he will flee from you. Laughter ! Then all 
was quiet ; had no more annoyance. 

22d, lectured in the Methodist meeting-house at Conk- 
lin. Some trifling objections were made by a person pres- 
ent. 1st, I did not tell the same story. 2d, he said I took a 
text, and would connect the world with religion ; but he 
said I did better than Frink. 

23d, lectured near Mr. Wormer's, to a t'uU house ; the peo- 
ple where I put up fixed off a fugitive's table. 1 can put up 
with it, and attribute it all to their ignorance. 

24 ih, lectured near Mr. Brown's. 

25th, preached at the Great Bend, in Susquehanna Co., 

26th, lectured in red School house, near Mr. McEinney's. 

28th and 29th, remained at the Great Bend, preaching and 
lecturing with great success, and without annoyance. 

39lh, fectured near Mr. Blatchley's. fo a full house. 

31st, lectured in Isaac Griggs' district to a full house, and 
all honorable persons maintained their self-respect : but 
here, permit me to say, a few persons behaved scandalously. 
They are known as disturbers of the peace, and I hope 
their names will be read in history. Isaac Gri«gs, the father, 
George Griggs, the son, and a few other boys, moulded in 
the same or similar moulds, these black hearts I hope will 
be purified ; and this class of men I hope will be civilized 
by truth and reason. 

January 1st, 1847, lectured in Windsor to a good con- 
gregation, and without annoyance. 

2d, lectured in Mr. Garney's School-room, to a full house. 

3d, preached in the afternoon, and in the evening up in 
Bandolph to a dense crowd. 

4th, lectured in Higley Hollow to a respectable congre- 
gation. Some ruffians from abroad annoyed the meeting. — 
I learned that Isaac Stevens was one of the number. 

5th, lectured the second time in Windsor to a very good 
and attentive congregation, save the. ruffians above mention^ 
ed. Some of them continued their disgraceful conduct. 

6th, lectured at Mr. Wood's to a good and aUentive con- 
gregatiou. 



AN DREW Ja^KvuX, J (j.'j 

7th and 6th, lectured not tar from Mr. Doolittle's. My 
frieuds requested me to preach there; had very good atten- 
tion from all except a very rouefh, uncivilized person. 

9th, had a full house up the river, near the distillery, with 
good attention from the ladies and gentlemen ; but a very 
black man came in, who I hoped would not think it out of 
the way for one dark man to claim relationship with anoth- 
er, so I called the black niggard brother, when he thrashed 
round like a bobtail sheep in fly time ; but did not hurt any 
one save himself, I learned that th(« black man's name was 
Steel. They ordered him to sit down, and he finally ccm- 
piied. I remarked to the conofregation, that the black nig- 
gard told the truth ; he is stealing your privilege of hearing 
this evening. This was done on Saturday evening; i847pthe 
Sth day cf the year. 

10th, preached at the Sehooi-house near Mr^ Manviiie^s^ to a 
dense congregation, twice^ and a third time in the evening in 
the Martin district. I take pleasure in saying that Elder 
Earll followed with some striking and appropriate remarks. 

11th, lectured in the meeting-house on Cole's Hill, to a 
good congregation. Elder E. again took part. 

12th, lectured near my friend Martin's, to a dense congrega= 
tion. Brother Earll again backed my feeble efforts with truth. 

13th, lectured at West Coleville to a full house. Brother 
E. took vehement ground. 

l^th, lec-ured in the Scouten School-house, to a dense con^ 
gregation ; had some beautiful remarks by Elder Earll. 

15th, lectured in Nev/ Ohio to a good congregation ; had a 
very pleasant time. 

16th, lectured in the Merwin district to a dense congrega- 
tion, without annoyance. The day following I preached twice 
in the same place, and in the evening at Harpers ville. When 
we arrived in the villarre the house was dark, which denoted to 
me a strong prejudice. I groaned in spirit, intending by the 
strength of goodness in the name of God to break down that 
false prejudice. I was foUov.'cd by Elder E. 

18th, lectured at Savage's to a dense congregation ; re= 
marks were made by several persons, one of whom informed 
us he had been guilty of voting for a slaveholder, and said he 
wag ashamed to say that he had votedfor Henry Clay in 1844. 
The gentleman who made the above remarks was deacon Cro- 
foot. This man is not alone ; I find others confessing that sin, 

I 4 



J04 mi. AM-* A r»VE.NTtMiK> 0{ 

lUth, arriveii iii West Coventry ; 2()tli, in Flymuuth; 21st. 
spoke in Smyrna; 22d, put. up with Mr. Lee, in Manliiis : 
23d, arrived in Syracuse ; remained in this village, labor- 
ing ill word and doctrine^ till the 26th, when I visited Chris- 
tian Hollow and lectured, accompanied by one of the warm- 
est friends of man, brother James Baker, of Washington. 

26th, I and my colleague lectured to a good congregation 
in the stone School-house. 

27th, lectured near Mr. Palmer's, to a full house. 
January 28, 1S47, 1 lectured in Cardiff to a dense con- 
gregation. We had no annoyance. I gave any one the 
privilege of making remarks against or in favor of what I 
had spoken. I had not one object.or, ail appeared well sat- 
isfied. I lodged with a very respectable inn-keeper, and 
found them much astonished at my doctrine, and at my 
writing. All appeared to be deeply interested in conversa- 
tion. I remarked another thing. It so happened that in 
the bar-room one of the company was John T. Thomas, an 
Indian, and it appeared to be spori to see him dance. They 
could very freely pay him to play the tool, while they did 
not think of paying 3 sober candid man to teach them the 
way of life and free salvation. And it appears to^be one 
of the highest objects our nation has in view, to employ 
men to play fool, &c. 

29tb, lectured in Onondaga Hollow, to a full house. 
3lth, again returned to Syracuse, and in the afternoon I bid 
my friends fureuell, and leaving for my other arrangements. 
It was very cold indeed. I was very much fatigued with my 
journey, and froze my feet, which threw me into such agony 
ihat I arose about 2 o'clock in the night, and got some snow 
and bound my feet up to relive them from pain. 

31st, attended meeting in Peierboro, and spoke on duty. 
February 1st, lectured in the School-house near Mr. 
Wood's, to a good congregation. 

2d, trnveled about 38 miles, and lertured in West Coventry 
to a full house — all quiet and civil except a few boys. Mr. 
IjGwis, with whom I usually put up, was not in the place. The 
other gontlcman upon whom I called, (Mr. Porter,) was out 
of health ; he could feed me, but having company, could not 
conveniently lodge me. I told him I could make out at the 
hotel, and asked him if he would attend the meeting. lie 
♦hought it not prudent, having a very hard cold, and was ap- 



AKDREVV JACKSON. Il?5 

preheiisive that lew would come in except some boys to annoy 
me. He then said if I could not fmd lodgings at any private 
house, and came back, they would tyy to find a place for me, 
and may be he should come into the meeting. According to 
his directions I went and found Mr. Phillips in his store j he 
said he would attend, and did so ; but took good care not to 
invite me home with him. I found the m.eeting room in 
darkness, which convinced me that darkness prevailed in the 
minds of the inhabitants. On closing the meeting, I left for 
my next appointment. Being much fatigued, I stopped on 
my journey in a school-house, but finding it cold and quite un- 
comfortable lying on the hard benches, I rose and resumed my 
journey until nature failed, having been without food for 24 
hours except two meals. I found a splendid mansion, with a 
good barn near by, where I rested comfortably, and thanked my 
God that a resting place was open for me in a hay mow : Even 
so, Lord Jesus, come and protect me. I fell asleep in Jesus' 
arms. After 4 o'clock I again made my way for the Merwin 
School-house ; it rained and the wind blew hard and broke my 
umbrella, so that my book got wet. Arrived at Mr. Daniel 
llurlburt's 25 minutes after lU o'clock, and dried my boots and 
got my breakfast. These people appeared to feel deeply, and 
sympathise with me : God bless them. 

3d, lectured in the Merwin district again, to a good con- 
gregation. 1 learned that it had been announced that a lady 
was going to be present and prove me an impostor. The 
person was called for; but it was with me as it was when cer- 
tain persons called for Baal ; — he did not come : And neither 
came my accuser. Many good remarks were made by others. 
I again arose by request, and gave a true history of facts, to 
show from what source I had received my instruction. I as- 
sured them I had complied with the true teaching of the holy 
Bible, and thereby had found God true to me in the sixth tri- 
al, and in the 7th he did not forsake me. Amidst the threat- 
enings of wicked men, when darkness and gloom gathered 
thick over my head and around my bed, my God was ever my 
strength in weakness and my light in darkness. 

4th, I gave the people an address at the Scouten School- 
house, concerning christian responsibility in view of the judg- 
ment, when all things shall declare that God is the living and 
true God, by whom we live and move and have our being, 
and to whom' our lives should be devoted, and our praises given. 

i5 



l(jt; LIIT. aNP AnVENTl'RF.S 

5tb, I arrived back ag^.in at Cole's Hill, and we had a very 
good time on the 6th. I can speak of this Convention as 
beinff one of the most i-iiteresting meetings I ever attended. 
Notwithstanding we were snow bound to a great extreme, 1 
am opinion that all who attended with U3 became confirmed 
Liberty men. I rejoice in God to see the result of my labors 
of love. From less than 20 on a former trial, Colesville poll- 
ed above 60 votes. I thank God for doing this glorious work. 

7th, preached in the Edson School-house at 2 o'clock, and 
preached again in Osborn Hollow. 

8th and 9ih, lectured in North Osborn Hollow We had a 
little annoyance, but Providence is faborable yet. 

10th and lith, lectured iu South Osborn Hollow to a good 
aud respectable congregation. 

iSth; lectured in the School-house %vhere they dismissed the 
teacher, and voted me in, and all other persons of honor, I 
had a dense and quiet congregation, 

13th, lectured in North Bainbridge, to a full and quiet house. 

14th, preached two sermons in the pame place, and in the 
evening at Rockdale to a full house. 

15th, lectured in Idumea to a very reppectable congrega- 
tion : but few unpleasant words. 

16th, lectured in the School-house near Mr. Warriner's, to 
a remarkable civil congregation. 

17th, addressed a dense congregation in Rogers' Hollow ; 
had a little annoyance, and told the boys if I was in the South, 
and they were black and did so, I would be very much asha- 
med of them. 

19th, lectured in School h. near Mr. Brown's to a full house, 

19th, lectured in Otego, Otsego Co., in the stone School- 
house, to a full house. 

20th, left for Sand Hill, and on my arrival I found myself 
placed among some true friends and some violent opposers, 
and before I opened the meeting the candles flashed, and we 
the people then went into the Baptist ch'h, and had a good time. 

21st, preached in Sand Hill School-house, and at 2 o'clock 
in Unadilla Centre ; also at the latter place in the evening. 

22d, lectured in the School-house near Mr. Scrambling\s, to 
a quiet congregation. 

23d, lectured near Mr. Birdsall's to a good and quiet house. 

24th, lectured near Mr. John Blakesley's. 

25th. lectured in Christian meeting-house, uiiinolesied. 



A N D R K W J A C K S N . 1 07 

26th, lectured in the School-house near Sutherland's, to a 
full house, unmolested. There was one man after meeting 
present with us, so far below the notice of gentlemen that I 
will not ^-ive room for his name. 

27th, lectured in Hunnsville, near David Kurd's, to a full 
and attentive house. After the meeting a few of the misera- 
ble, contemptible class threw a few snow balls, but did no harm. 

2Sth, preached in the village o( Otego, and in the evening 
near Mr. Blakeley's. When I found the door locked I thought 
it could not be true that the citizens would submit to such an 
outrage. I was not deceived. We went in, and were com- 
manded to leave the house—but the people regarded not the 
order I and I found all the audience^willing to receive the 
truth, v>'ith the exception of a person named COLE. The 
name I suppose, eignines black y but this Cole tried to pass 
for white, and it appeared at this time truly a very black one, 
and kept up a crackling as though ignited by a liquid gas. I 
told the congregation it might seem strange to be interrupted 
by a hot Cole on the Sabbath, but we ought to rejoice that this 
kind of Cole could do little injury. All we ask is the appro- 
bation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every thing we 
do, and without doubt ive will achieve the victory for which we 
toil ; for by faith we can receive all spiritual and temporal 
blessings. 

March 1st, lectured in the white Meeting-house on the 
plains of Oneonta. Eider Wing was present, and we had 
good attention. 

3d, lectured in Davenport, Delaware County, near Deacon 
Slade's. 

3d, lectured in the Wolf School-house. 

4th, lectured in the School-house near Wm. Richardson's, 
to a dense congregation. Some interruption: See poetic al- 
lusion to the subject on page IIS. 

5th, lectured in the Presbyterian meeting-house in the vil= 
lage of Oneonta. We had a little annoyance. 

6th, lectured in the School-house near Mr. Strat's. 

7th, preached twice in the Meeting-house on the Plains, 

{r:)» In a word, I must say, the last few months I found great 
success in almost every part. We have reason to expect the 
cause is still moving forward, and universal truth is spreading 
its glorious light around the wQrld, and among all the inhabit 



JOS LIFT, AND A1>VE.NTCRRS OF 

tants thereof : And to this end let every man take hold of the 
glorious and philanthropic work, and press forward the old car 
of Freedom through the land. 

I have been giving a long course of new lectures, in which 
it is understood that I do not and will not admit that any per- 
son can be a true christian and a slaveholder. Sir, this is my 
true position, and as soon as-I am convinced that a human 
being can be a disciple of Christ, and traffic in His image, 
then you have satisfied me that Heaven is inhabited with for- 
nicators, liars, and horse thieves, and that all classes of licen- 
tious persons are upheld on the same principle, and are sing- 
ing songs of praise to the Savior. I had far rather retain a 
standing among a banditti of horse or other thieves, than 
thieves who call themselves Christians, and make a loud 
n6ise about wickedness, and cry mightily against poor ruined 
and undone sinners, and mourn over the desolation of our 
7aou, and sell saints to pay clergymen. save our Zion ! 
Sell infants and mothers, sundering them apart, to repair our 
churches. O do save this holy Zion, or R. L. Rebellious Lion. 
I speak free and frank on this point. I expect it will start the 
dander ; but 1 am aware it is not a slander. 1 will expose 
your secresies ; but let repentance keep thee friends. 

July 25th, 184.7. 



April 2d, 184-7. I Lectured on "War, at New Ohio, and 
I showed fairly that war was not a new thing in the L^nited 
States at all, but you ask, 

" What is the reason we have not heard it spoken of]" 

Because we could not speak for ourselves, and the people 
whom God called upon to open their mouths for the dumb 
thought it not best. 

After meeting a little boy came up and gave me one cent. 
The father said he was very anxious to attend the meeting, 
but would not come without money. I suppose the father and 
mother wore very kind and the child possessed the same dis- 
position. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 100 

A STARTLING ANECDOTE. 

I will relate a fact which is very revolting to every honest 
citizen. I refer to a startling scene which took place in Mc- 
Lean county, Illinois, in Bloomington, Blooming Grove. I 
I was at the house of a true friend, as I fled from my own 
friends and home. I here became acquainted with Henry 
Claj'-. We were both toiling hard for freedom. I am not 
prepared to give my readers a full account of Mr. Clay. He 
was a man, but not a black man, neither was he a white man. 
He could not tell me whether he belonged to the royal family 
or not. I found his head clear, and his heart warm. I saw 
him fleeeing as I did. America, what is she doing, why is 
the wicked part of our citizens all blinded, who is her crushed, 
and what must be her fate 1 She is insulting and enslaving 
men. What men? George Washington, Henry Clay, James 
Madison, and the sons of our noblest men, or men of dis- 
tinguished character by name, and I think them as good men 
in the sight of God as any class of hi^ creation notwithstand- 
ing their color* We love what our namesakes loved, Liberty. 
I say it is valuable, and if it is worth anything it must be par- 
amount, for where the man in this day and age can be 
brought under the holy and glorious influence of the gospel, 
we have not any doubts or fears so far as our success is con- 
cerned. 

The goffd judgment of intelligent persons is directly op- 
posed to every feature of the whole system of American sla- 
very, with all its kindness to rob God by enslaving ministers 
and locking them up in jails and state prisons, and oppressing 
the children of the living and true God. These things should 
"be rebuked, yes they mnst be openly exposed to the world for 
the wicked are not fools, neither are they blind. We cannot 
keep these dark things in the church, and throw the garb of 
religion around all the rapine of wicked slave owners, and 
call this piety. I do ask you as members of the American 
church, to look into this matter. I believe if all is well it can- 
not do any person any injustice to talk about our glorious, and 
free institutions in America. We Americans are a class of 
very noble spirited people. The dignity of our sublime chur- 
ches must not be exposed by bringing the Holy Bible to test 
our christian characters, it is too soon for us to quit our dear 
"brethren y<it We areulitllc opposed to the close applieatio*! 



HO LU£ AND ADVENTURES OP 

of these cutting texts. I am a little fearful that to apply 
the good old Golden rule, it would ruin our fine church, and 
our minister is a very prudent man, and he will not proclaim 
anything to destroy the confidence of any of his hearers. We 
cannot support him now hardly, and if he should come out 
right square, he would loose all his influence and support. I 
know he is doing all in his power to keep our church together 
in this place, but it is hard to see him insulted so by ultraism, 
I exhort you in the name of God to adhere to the instructions 
of a friend. You should remember that God has given you 
(he blessed Bible to teach you the way of life eternal. How 
can any person object to its rule ? We all confess it is a 
good book to guide us through the dark valley and shadow of 
death. And if so, why not submit* to all his laws, and do it 
quick without delaying this glorious and all important work 
of Salvation. ■ — — 

ANECDOTE- 

I recollect very well of hearing once, a story of a very re^ 
spectable old judge and a very insulting young lawyer who 
tried to abuse the judge. A friend of the judge remarked, 

"I would not take his abusei" 

The honorable judge referr.-d to a Httle fist dog, with which 
he was well acquainted. He would bark at the moon v>'hen 
he saw it shining. But the moon did not regard the fist, it 
continued shining. 

And the judge continued to shine by refusing to notice the 
lawyer. I have no reason to doubt the truth of this staterMent 
for I witnessed a similar case once. 

I was very busy at work and the pup made a great noise a^ 
if he had found a multitude of big elks, and the old lady sent 
me off in a great hurry to see what the pup was barking at. — 
The little dog was in the act of drinking, and when he would 
open his mouth and show his teeth, the other ugly dog would 
show his teeth. would men look at self and at the same 
time think who they were viewing. I think it would be enough 
to make them fear and tremble, perfectly horrified. What a 
thought — American freemen voting for men who are guilty of 
every mean act, even the selling of human beings for support. 
That is the way is it, for a republican to become respectable. 
Such respect I do not crave God knows, and if you do, go on. 
1 deprecate such acts. 



AN CRE V/ JACitsO x\^ 111 

FACTS IN GENERAL. 

I think it folly for me to consume time in showing you the 
nature of this4nstitution. My dear dying friends and fellow 
travelers to eternity! I see v/hat this treacherous institution is 
doing in the land. Do you wish me to show you, sir ? Yes, 
sirj T am wishing to see what is making so much noise. I am 
searching after the glorious and sublime principle of republi- 
can security j for I am honestly convinced that we as a nation 
are ruined and undone forever, unless we take hold with all 
faith and redeem our civil and religious liberty. You know we 
have been drove out of our school-housej and our churches have 
been locked against men who ask the privilege to inform us, 
I am determined to see and hear for myself, and act with re- 
gard to the justification and sanctification of my own soul.'— 
Ail I ask is to see ; aud if you can show me, I will be glad. 
" I can show you quickly all you wish to see, if you will take 
off' those old pro-slavery speets, which you have used until you 
cannot see through them to discern a man from a mcuse. 

This is a true statement ; for in relation to the killing of 4 
mousej there is no one ever takes notice ef it. 

Neither is there any person to take notice of slave killing. 

But the question is, can any person of good judgm.ent be 
foolish enough to act so bad 1 What beneiit is it to kill of? 
their slaves. 

Sir, I will answer this, if you will tell me what is gained by 
husbands and wives fighting 1 

There is not any gain, but a great loss. They lose their 
standing in societv, and also their influence as parents — and 
worst of all, the love of God is lost, and it is their delight to 
torment and harrass the feelings of each other for revenge. 

You have settled this matter ; there cannot be any answer 
more appropriate ; the f«ct is sufficient evidence of itself; 
and should I do you justice, I would add, all that disregard the 
rights of the created, cannot have any regard for the Creator. 

We are ail bound to look into these things. Now the ques- 
tion is, what will be the final result if we act. I can see there 
13 a great wrong. 

Yes, look and remember God will look. Yea, he will exe- 
cute justice against thee. Then, even your cup is full ; all 
you have to do is v/ell near done. You may consent to the 
ivill of wicked, ungodly rulers, but against such I do earnest- 



\ 12 LIFE AND ADVExNTUrvES OF 

\y protest, and will protest, for they arc not coinpclent. if" 
any man cannot live save by fraud, and robbery, and misery, 
and franticness, ruin is truly standing at the door of every 
house. Yea, ruin is making inroads into ali the enterprises 
of our great and noble nation. I see its dismal, dark and 
dangerous effect, and therefore speak decidedly. Yes, I speak 
of a reality, and not of an imaginary evil. I am an Ameri- 
can born citizen ; and therefore it is my home. T re^rard it as 
such, and stand ever prepared to lend my influence as a pat- 
riot in behalf of my beloved country. 1 have as strong zeal 
as any man ; my patriotism is not so strong as to crave all this 
world, and deprive every other man of the right to any soil, 
and then seize the person of a man in every respect like unto 
myself. No, my spirit of philanthropy has ever taught me to 
regard the rights of every person, for I find that our happiness 
essentially depends on the happiness of others ; and that in pro- 
portion to the sufferings and misery of others, must we collec- 
tively and individually suffer reproach. What a glorious re- 
public we have ! Wonderful security against outrages upon the *- 
people's rights. Hark ! hearken to the rattling of chains! 
What centlcman's horse is loose? Look out ! What is the mat- 
tor, do you see any thing ? 

Yes, I see a large company of slaves just driven into the 
Jail across the street. What a sight! Is this all a dream 1 
No, it is fact ! 1 ask if we are not elevating men to high offi- 
cial station in this boasted republic, who are so contemptible 
as virtually to consent to every like rascality, injustice and 
bloodshed I Suppose we knew of a lion and tiger, both in 
this neighbood, and the fact is ascertained that all the sheep 
are in danger of being devoured, pigs not excepted. I see 
where they go in, and tell every body. 1 know the very spot 
where they get in. John, well why do you stand still then and 
let all those, pigs and sheep be killed. 

Because I am notable to prevent them from coming in ; all 
the fence is down all along the South side of the field, and 1 
thought it best to pull down this port up North, that the sheep 
and pigs may all runaway, and these devouring animals will 
starve to death, and then you feed them so that they will die 
quick. Votes is what feeds tyrants. 

Again, we may take another case to elucidate this great mat- 
ter. Here we have men among us who denominate them- 
selves Tj'ibcrty men; and indeed these very men will not vote 



ANDRF.W .lAOkSON. \ ]',< 

for a mail liuless lip i.^ a Liberty Party man. This is good, 
but do we find men tnio ? Yes, when it is convcriieiit ; but 
soms of these men cling to the old pro-slavery church, and pay 
out their money to the deviTs understrapper, &c. 

The best thing we can do is to remember Him that speaks, 
and the work is done. 

WHAT A HORRID SHAM! AM I AN AMERICAN 

CITIZEN ? 

Yes, I am ; I cannot deny it, I must confess. But while 
f acknowledofe I wish myself in a heathen land. Yes, so 
far that the American Bible could not reach me. Why, 
from the fact if it is so ^ad a book as the Deacon under- 
stands it to be, and if the holy Bible is teaching us to des- 
troy tile happiness of each other, 1 think the less we know 
conccrnin<T the American Board of Missions, and the Amer- 
ican piety, the better we are off. All her glorious institu- 
tions, are truly and emphatically upheld by injustice and op- 
pression of the very worst kind. glorious Kepublic, how 
are you sustained 1 By whipping men, and by driving wo- 
men, under all circumstances, destitute of the hemp linen 
it would take to make a rich woman what they call a nejiro 
towel. 

What a sublime government, where men are authorized 
to sell men, and w^omen claim their equal sister according 
to law. What a shame! what a scandal! what a wretch- 
ed disgrace to every inhabitant of the country ! 

THE SKILL OF A LADY. 

I am bound to expose a {ew wicked cruel things, and while 
I speak, I have one request to make. I ask you, redder, to 
make the application. You will read with candor, and act 
from principle 

I must here mention one fact concerning a lady who once 
came north and returned again to the slave cursed region of 
the south under the pretence that she did notdesire her freedom. 
But this very lady informed me that she had a jrreat object in 
view, when she refused her liberty for two'long and dreary 
years. Her dear husband and poor little children were all 
slaves, and she thought it a privilege to wear the fetter with 

K 



Ill MIE AND ADVENTL'RES OF 

them rather than to leave them in slavery. But ivhat a shame, 
and is this all liction ? No, every word I speak is in reality 

true. Tills lady was living with Doct. T. in H . 

I lodged witli a Methodist exhorter a short time since. He 
informed me that he had just made his escape from old T. His 
i'riends were all sold. He began to relate the facts in the 
case but could not explain his wrongs and deprivations. His 
dear companion was of little use to him when he was at home, 
and when his mind is directed to the south the tliought quickly 
flashes in, O, my wife and children, I cannot speak, it breaks 
my heart. 

THE INDEX TO THE GALLOWS. 

JMarch lAth^ 1847, in the district commonhj called ComstocJc 

district, but now denominated Skunk Hollow. 

Jiwahe^ O ye Jlmerican Citizens, awake ! 

I have just witnessed a scene such as all the world should 
know. \Vhcn I find ladies of respect aud gentlemen who re- 
gard the truth, denied the right to assemble even to worship 
God on the Lord's Holy Day, I solemnly protest against it. — 
Friends and fellow citizens, it is a dangerous outrage upon all 
civil aud religious Liberty. And this is not all, it is also a 
desecration of the Sabbath day, and the very index to the gal- 
lows or the State Prison. And if the fact is established, I 
ask if it is not time we were all awake and actiutr against 
all these heaven darinf; and God dishonoring outrages which 
repuditaes all good. 

How canyon talk so, we are doing something against sla- 
very, and we do not wish to be called pro-slavery. 

Dear tViends, let me warn you to be true in view of the 
judgment, and in view of the above lacts let me appeal to the 
heart of every reader of this book to stop and think, think 
of the wrongs we poor slaves have to endure. We who live 
with good men, and kind rich ladies : Yes, members of the 
Churc'i, who take us with them, as christian class mates and 
bond servants. Yea more, we hear the minister telling much 
about the goodness of God, — of His love in stooping so low- 
as to redeem us from the lake of eternal blackness and dark- 
ness, misery and wo ! 



ANDREW JACKSON. 1 15 

APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF HUMANITY. 

I appeal to you who have been reading the foregoing facts, 
to stop and consider that all these deprivations that we endure 
have been inflicted upon us by men of your own choice ; 
and this fact ye have denied, telling us the party nominated 
these men for office ; but yo say they were not the men of 
our choosing, and since we have such persons placed be- 
fore us, it is right that we should see to this matter : and 
we will make the best we can of it by choosing the least of 
the two evils ; yet ye are all the time trying to make us 
believe that our rulers regard not the principles which you 
love. Are we to believe you while you continue to elevate 
oppressive men to office 1 No, we will not be such fools : 
I know you have better sense, when you talk fieely of the 
blessing of Liberty ; but I am aware that all persons can 
understand well one part of the harrow which is attached to 
slavery, while it is matter of moral impossibility for any hu- 
man being to form an opinion of the torment which paor 
slaves often undergo. 

Every person can perceive at once the nature of slav^ery. 
Its first object is to lay its iron grasp upon the victim^ and 
then put the fetters on the mind. 0, what can a man think 
of himself or his race, that are so hardened that they can 
catch a child from the mother's arms, and for the trifling 
sum of lOO dollars bid defiance to God and their goi'ern- 
ment, and sell it in spite of all the entreaty of a kind moth- 
er. I have before referred vou to some thinors that occurred 
to me while in the dungeon with Simond and Henry. Si- 
mond was the white man, and said he was a free man from 
Indiana. Henry said he vvas a slave from Alabama. The 
following which I learnt from poor old uncle Henry, in re- 
gard to his perils in escaping from his oppressors, should in- 
duce every one who acknowledges God as the common Fa- 
ther of all mankind, to take a high and decided stand in de- 
fence of universal right against oppression in every form. — 
This man was called little Harry when he was at home. He 
had been twelve months making his way through difficulties 
almost insurmountable. He had not any thing on his back, 
and I could not lay my finger any where on his back without 
touching a scar. He had a very good knife which he said he 
had used when finding shoats sleeping^,— often killing, skin- 

k2 



11(3 MIE AND ADVENTCREs OF 

ninof and cutting of!" a quarter, which he roasted and ate wi'h- 
out salt or bread, and the remainder he took along in his knap- 
sack, which I saw in Jail full ot' grease. His old pantaloons 
were rags and strings ; his lect were bare ; he was an object 
of pity. 

'J'his man had three wives taken away and sold into the 
hands of those wicked, lawless, ungodly slave traders. He 
said soon after they commenced weeding the cotton, some of 
the hands being threatened with a flogging, wcnt'to the woods. 
The overseer and James the colored driver, went to hunt them. 
They took five blood-hounds that were kept to hunt fugitives. 
As it was difficult to get good trusty dogs, they would borrow 
hounds to hunt people. I related the fact to uncle Henry and 
Simond, that where I came from they sent thirty miles after 
Finney's hounds to catch McFadden's slave Manuel : but he 
escaped into the free state of Indiana, and was there wounded 
by a shot, taken back to Bowling Green, Ky., and hanged. 
I saw the act performed. 

But to return ; uncle Henry said that his pursuers set their 
doors after the men. When they saw the dogs coming they 
took a tree, and were secure until the men came up and se- 
cured them. He said the old man gave a great price for 
the slut and four puppies, and trained them while they were 
young to catch slaves. While they were going over the cot- 
ton picking for the last time, one of the slaves named Little 
John, ranaway. The hounds were started upon the man's 
track, and the overseer and a part of the slaves followed : But 
in a moment all was still. At this awful moment of soul har- 
rowing suspense, anxiety to see our friend and fleeing vic- 
tim was depicted in every countenance ; but what did they 
see ] Nothing of John — but the hounds in a gore of blood, 
all over their heads and legs — darkness and the most fearful 
apprehensions shrouding the rest. 

John was not found that night. Early the next morning 
search was made for the slave. Little John was found, stifl* 
upon the ground, torn and mangled by the hounds, in the 
cane. His body had been dragged around, and the pieces 
were found sticking to the snags as though he was a wild 
hog. Do you hope to see these men at the judgment bar 1 
We shall meet there. And may God in his infinite mercy 
and wisdom, give us all grace to discover our obligation to 
each other. Some may remark after reading the above 



ANDREW JACKSON. 1 I '' 

fact, well, it is too bad, but the boy should not have runa- 
way—it is nothing but a negro any how, and they thus light- 
ly treat this subject. Hark, read this again, and reflect up- 
on this all important topic. See the image of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ, torn in pieces by blood hounds, thus sticking 
about on the snags. * And the entrails of poor John were 
to be seen clinging to the old cane stubs that had been bro- 
ken. This young man had a mother and also two sifters on 
the plantation. Now what conld have been the feelings of 
these dear friends and relations of the murdered John. — 
None but God can tell. 

Uncle Henry informed me that another one of the boys 
ranaway, and he was chased so hard by the dogs that he took 
to a tree, but the overseer soon came up and caught him, 
and carried him back. Now he shall be punished, — the old 
demon had some forks placed across the man's neck to hold 
him down, and then some to hold his wrists, and others to 
confine the ancles. After this poor fellow arose up from be- 
ing cat-hauled he was then placed in the stocks where he 
died. I could make your blood run cold by relating facts 
concerning cruelty, but it is not worthwhile. Time and 
paper cannot unfold the dark features of the slave system. — 
I have a very good opportunity to know from my own ex- 
perience, and now I feel the efiect operating upon me as an 
individual, — and it is destroying all that can prove beneficial 
10 the race of man. 



A FATHER WRONGED. 

While I am exposing vice, I will relate a circumstance 
which took place thirty years ago in Kentucky. There 
was a woman standing with a child in her arms, and her 
husband was near — two men walked up laughing and talk- 
ing — at the time the man was not looking one of them 
raised his staff and at a blow felled him to the earth, and 
while he was lying helpless these men handcuffed him and 
drove him away down to new Orleans. I gazed upon that 
scene, but was too small to remember it. I am that very- 
child which was taken up for dead, and now publish this 
bloody crime. I was rolled in water, and bled, and revived, 
while my mother went the way of all the earth. 

k2 



H8 LIFE AND ADVENTURES Of- 

LIJS'ES, 

Addressed to certain individuals in Richardson district, who 
disiino^uished them P. D., March 4ih, 1S47. 

1 I will take my paper and my pen, 
And expose those sin polluted men ; 
Now by this course I know we should 
Maintain the just, upright and good. 

2 AVhile justice all the time should tell, 
Ungodly tyrants they shall dwell 
"Where torment rages all the night, 
Because you trample on His right. 

3 You spurn the light of gospel daj^, 
And violate in every way ; 

How solemnly God will 'raign you up, 
And give to you that bitter cup. 

4 O see the dark and damning deed, 
For which our Nation yet will plead ; 
I find the use here made with powder, 
Is to crack around us louder. 

5 How true it is that Jesus bled. 
That you ungodly should be fed ; 

O hear the cries and piteous groans 
Which He suffered for His sons. 

6 What ! and shall they wear their yoke ? 
No, my God, never let thy servants joke ; 
Is the image of a God in chains, 

Or is it not worth His servants' pains. 

7 Why say ye the people made a break ; 

Do you call my uncle James K, Polk a rake ? 
How many millions can he drag ? 
He must be a very strong old snag, 

8 We see the land abounds in trash ; 
But never tremble though they flash ; 
Our honest men lament these things— 
Thy tyrants build up wretched Kings. 



A N D R E \V J A aCSO N . 1 1 •> 



9 ^ow just as true as I am born, 

The drunkard ruffians mob with corn ; 
O see their low degraded state ; 
What must be such villains' fate ! 

10 And when we speak about these wrongs. 
Then sing triumphant freedom's songs, 
They'll pelt us with light finger stones. 
Worse than the half Spanish drones. j 

11 They'll hop around brisk as a flea — 
How small such men appear to me ; 
They"ll fill the stove pipe with old straw, 
And loudly boast of our free law. 

12 He crammed it in the stove pipe — 
Of infamous habits he's the type ! 

And soon the house was full of smoke ; 
All poor silly ruffians laugh and joke. 

13 Without a doubt it will be seen 
Some individuals acted mean ; 

The eye of One is somewhat keen — 
He's ever watching for the fiend. 

14 The lines above from facts have grown ; 
To the readers I have shown, 

And all their guilty, wicked acts, 
Are worse than any of the blacks. 



THE QUESTION OF A SLAVE. 

BY ANDREW JACKSON. 

O who can now forget the slave, 

Lying in his chains 1 
May every freeman stand to save 

Them from their pains. 



2ii 



IJFE A.M» AOVENTrilEs v't 

Lord, when shall we thy truth regard. 

And in thy presence bow ; 
Dear Lord, and shall we hear thy word, 

And all these wrongs allow 1 

No, never, while the heart can feel, 

Can we enjoy peace, 
To see old wicked tyrants steal, 

And children sold as geese. 

How true, it is a horrid shame, 

But we will mend this wronjr. 
Disgraceful to o»ir nation's fame, 

Till freedom triumph strong. 

How can we slumber on in shame, 

And drench the laud in blood ; 
Come let us every right redeem, 

And spread truth like a flood. 

FL^lSnCAL ANECDOTE. 

1 heard a man speaking against sin and vsinners, and anion,;] 
the hundreds were the ministers also. One of the number was 
a Lion and another a Jiamb. The Lion remarked that it 
would be better for our country if all the meeting-houses were 
burned down : Yes, if all the false ministers were hangino- 
to the steeples, said the Lamb. I think the Lamb could not 
briefly have been more comprehensive. I remember well how 
one ugly thing is apt to hate another. When a slave, I was 
waiting on old mistress, and all at once we heard the puppy 
making as much noise as though he had i'ound an elk. I was 
sent in haste to see what the pup had found, and 1 assure you 
I was pleased to see him act his part ; he hud found an outra- 
geous ugly dog, which he could do nolliing at all with. The 
puppy undertook to fight, even in the water ; but as soon as I 
had pacified him all the difficulty was bcttled. So if we can 
succeed in pacif^ying the tyrants, all our other difficulties will 
be settled. All the fault and error is at our own door, who el- 
evate oppressors. You must be brought to see and feel your 
guilt as citizens aud christians, and then the work is done. — 
Let all persons be careful to examine themselves, and live in 
peace with each other. 



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